There had been weeks of wrangles over release dates for players in the middle of the European club season – and then came the shock news on the eve of the finals that Afcon, traditionally a biennial tournament, will be held every four years from 2028.
Once Morocco’s Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan had greeted the players on the pitch in teeming rain, posed for photos and taken a ceremonial kick-off, it was finally time for the action to take centre stage.
Morocco have been the top-ranked African side since the 2022 Fifa World Cup, when they became the first side from the continent to reach the semi-finals, and their ambition on the pitch has been matched by vast investment in football stadiums and infrastructure – all backed by King Mohammed VI.
The country is enjoying its time in the limelight, having hosted the past two Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals – a tournament it is set to hold again in March next year.
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by the kingdom but, for now, the pressure is on Regragui to deliver a first Afcon title since 1976, with the coach admitting that “anything other than victory will be a failure”.
Morocco have only returned to the last four at the finals once in the past 49 years – in 2004 when Regragui was part of the side pipped to the trophy by Tunisia.
Bigger tests will come for the Atlas Lions but their home fans will be relieved that their side navigated a potential upset at the hands of Stefano Cusin’s Comoros.