The 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) host country Morocco is on Wednesday set to clash with one-time winner Libya in the tournament’s first semi-final game.
The two North African sides will clash at the Complexe Mohammed V in the capital Casablanca, with Morocco seeking to reach the final for the first time.
Both sides are confident of getting a win in the game which will give the victor a ticket to the final scheduled to be played on 4 February.
“I completely trust my players and we have a good balance in our team,” Morocco’s coach Jamal Sellami said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Sellami’s captain Badr Benoun said the team was focused and confident of beating Libya to reach the final.
“There’s a rule in football which says don’t concentrate too much on the other team but work on your side. We’re ready for any scenario and are very confident of victory,” he said.
Libya’s coach Darko Novic on the other hand said he would be happy if his side beats the host to reach the final for the second time since the competition’s inception.
The troubled nation won the 2014 edition staged in South Africa, becoming the second North African side to win the CHAN trophy.
“Morocco have a great team and they have really progressed in football so I will be happy if we beat them tomorrow,” Novic said.
His captain, Mohamed Nashnush, also expressed the team’s confidence ahead of the game.
“We’re not afraid of any players because we believe in our team. We’re here to win and we’ll work towards that,” he said.
The game kicks off at 1630GMT.
