Star-studded Morocco squad aim to right wrongs of 1st leg, secure World Cup qualification against Congo

RIYADH: Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt last week took major steps toward qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with 1-0 wins over Cameroon, Mali, and Senegal.

Missing from the triumphant North African list on Friday was Morocco, who could only draw 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

And while even the winners still have their work cut out to progress on Tuesday night, Morocco have the most difficult of tasks, even though the return match will be taking place in Casablanca.

Things have not been easy for Morocco’s national team coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who attracted extra pressure by falling out with Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and Ajax’s Noussair Mazraoui.

When the Bosnian picked a squad of 26 players for the latest round of qualification, there were only three home-based players, from Wydad Casablanca — Yahya Jabrane, Yahya Attia, and goalkeeper Reda Tagnaouti. All started the first leg on the bench.

Instead, Halilhodzic lined up with an all-Europe-based first 11, with three playing in France, two in Spain, two in England, two in Hungary, and one each in Belgium and Italy.

Throughout the game, the Congo attack troubled the Moroccan defense led by Ghanem Saiss and goalkeeper Bono. Having fallen behind after only 12 minutes to a Yoane Wissa goal, Halilhodzic had to take more risks in search of an equalizer, but the approach was often scattered.

The players lacked cohesion on the pitch, and the coach did not inspire any tactical plan on the break until the 76th minute when substitute Tariq Al-Tisoudali managed to square the tie.

Watford full-back Adam Masina, in particular, performed well below par and was subjected to plenty of criticism, while Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, Wolverhampton Wanderers