ACN/World Cup qualifiers: Morocco to play Gabon Saturday

Morocco's soccer squad will on Saturday play Gabon, Group A, as part of the 2010 ACN/World Cup qualifiers.

   Morocco's national team coach, Roger Lemerre, considered that the Atlas Lions have to be "realistic" in their game against Gabon to secure a three-point lead.

   "We must be realistic in our game with Gabon because only the result counts," Lemerre said at a press conference at the national football centre in Maamoura, Rabat outskirts.

    Lemerre had invited 24 players, but striker Nabil Baha will miss the game because of injury.

    Morocco’s team coach is confident, however, that Adel Taarabt will play in this game after he was given the all clear by FIFA.

    “We have already called Taarabt to play with us against Gabon and we received FIFA’s official authorisation on March 24," he said.

    Midfielder Youssef Sefri said Morocco’s group “is difficult but the Atlas Lions are determined to defeat Gabon in the first match.”

   The A group comprises two teams besides Morocco, namely Cameroon and Togo. Only the top placed team in each of the five groups of the game qualifies for the 2010 World Cup tournament in South Africa, while the top three grabbing tickets for the Angola 2010 CAN.

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