Morocco will focus on being tough to beat

Manager Herve Renard

If the Fifa rankings are any kind of reliable guide then Morocco will arrive in Russia as the weakest African challengers but that would be doing the Atlas Lions a disservice.

Morocco, ranked 48th in the world and only one spot above debutants Panama, came through a difficult qualifying group against Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mali without conceding a goal which is testament to the organisational skills of ace coach Herve Renard.

The much-travelled boss knows his way around African football and has made Morocco tough to beat with Juventus centre-back Medhi Benatia key to that robust defence.

However, Morocco also have their attacking dangers with Ajax's Hakim Ziyech, Sofiane Boufal, Younes Belhanda, Amine Harit and Nordin Amrabat all decent options in midfield, although there will be a reliance on limited striker Khalid Boutaib for goals.

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