Morocco qualified for the 2013 African Cup of Nations on Sunday after overcoming a 2-0 deficit from the first leg of their tie with Mozambique as Abdelaziz Barrada, Houssine Kharja, Youssef Al Arabi and Nordin Amrabat all netted for the Lions of the Atlas.
Mozambique had arrived in Marrakech with high hopes of qualifying at the expense of 1976 champion Morocco, but the 4-0 defeat instead left Gert Engels’ side reeling.
Mozambique had arrived in Marrakech with high hopes of qualifying at the expense of 1976 champion Morocco, but the 4-0 defeat instead left Gert Engels’ side reeling.
The win and qualification was a big boost for the Atlas Lion’s new coach Rachid Taoussi, who replaced Belgian coach Eric Gerets following the defeat in Mozambique.
Taoussi, former coach of the MAS of Fez and FAR of Rabat, was named to the surprise of many Moroccans who had expected veteran coach Badou Zaki to be named the new coach.
Taoussi won a historic triplet with the MAS of Fez, earning the club the African Federation Cup, the African Super Cup, and the Throne Cup.
His predecessor, Gerets, was in charge of Morocco for almost two years. He started well but has come under increasing pressure recently after a series of poor results.
