Potential rustiness, after travel issues caused Morocco to forfeit their African Nations Championship games in January, could hinder the Atlas Lions. But they won’t lack motivation after a wait of nearly 25 years to face FIFA’s top nation and five-time world champions Brazil, who beat them 3-0 at France ’98 just months after their first top-ten posting by FIFA.
Brazil interim coach Ramon Menezes is expected to field his strongest XI in Tangier as he looks to consolidate FIFA’s #1 spot after Tite’s resignation. The fact that a permanent coach is yet to be appointed might play into Morocco hands, but with links to current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti gathering steam, there will be an eagerness to impress amongst the visiting players.
Tite’s resignation came in the wake of Brazil fourth straight quarter-final elimination in WC editions held on foreign soil, before which an inconsequential WC group stage finale loss to Cameroon (1-0) provided several warning signs. Incredibly, that marked just a second defeat in Brazil’s all-time record against African opponents (W36, D2).
However, no African team other than Cameroon has yet outwitted the Seleção in 109 years of existence. Whoever takes the Brazil job long-term certainly has a proud national legacy to uphold, with 2019 Copa América winner Tite suffering only one other loss to a team currently outside FIFA’s top-ten during his six and a half year tenure (vs Peru, Sep 2019).
Players to watch: Sevilla man Youssef En-Nesyri was the hero in Morocco stunning WC quarter-final win over Portugal, making his last three international goals decisive. Also representing La Liga are Real Madrid’s Brazilian duo Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. Primed to share a pitch for only the third time in a senior-level international, they seek their first joint goal participation since the latter assisted the former back in October (W 2-1 vs Shakhtar Donetsk).
Hot streak: In a period spanning more than five years, none of the last 16 games at this venue have ended goalless.
