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Sektioui aims for victory against Saudi Arabia to secure quarter-final spot
Tarik Sektioui, head coach of Morocco’s national A’ football team, stated on Sunday that his players will aim for nothing less than victory against Saudi Arabia in the third and final Group B match of the Arab Cup, with the goal of securing a place in the quarter-finals.
“A draw is not our objective, even if it would be enough to qualify. We want to win and finish first in the group,” Sektioui said during the pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s encounter at Loussail Stadium (6:00 p.m. GMT+1).
Sektioui acknowledged the challenge posed by Saudi Arabia, describing them as “one of the serious contenders for the title,” and emphasized the importance of humility and respect in a tournament where all matches are competitive. He noted that the overall level between teams “has narrowed significantly during the group stage.”
Addressing questions about the goalkeeper position, Sektioui clarified that there is no controversy: Mehdi Benabid remains the first choice. The decision to start Salaheddine Chihab in the opening match against Comoros was made to rest Benabid and avoid potential injury.
Midfielder Mohamed Moufid highlighted the positive atmosphere within the squad, adding that all players understand the responsibility they carry as they aim for a quarter-final berth. He stressed that “matches of this level are often decided by small details.”
François Rodrigues, Saudi Arabia’s assistant coach, stated that his team is preparing seriously despite already being qualified. He added that the staff may choose to rotate the squad: “We will see if we rest some key players.” He also underlined Saudi Arabia’s objective of improving defensively after conceding goals in previous matches.
The other Group B match, between Comoros and Oman, will also take place on Monday in Doha (6:00 p.m. GMT+1).
