AFCON countdown: Pirates coach confident Morocco will impress the continent

With just over two weeks to go, the continent’s elite will descend on North Africa as 24 nations battle for the crown.

Ouaddou, who earned 58 caps for the Atlas Lions and was part of the side that finished runners-up in 2004, believes Africa can expect a world-class spectacle as global attention shifts toward Morocco. 

"It's a big event for us, for the kingdom of Morocco. You know that it has been a long time that my country was looking to organise the World Cup. We've been competing against you in 2010 but at least I'm happy that one African country won the organisation and it was a fantastic organisation I remember,” Ouaddou said. 

“We have the opportunity to organise a small competition, the AFCON, it will be a test for us. I think it's a country that welcomes everyone, a warm country, nice people who love football. It's the land of football."

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Over the last several years, Morocco has made great strides in their own football development and Ouaddou says it’s credit to King Mohammed VI. 

"Our [His Majesty] King Mohammed VI since 15 years had a very big vision to develop football, professional football as well for the women and my country is doing a fantastic job in the continent,” the coach added.

“I think they are showing a real example, even in the youth teams, you can see that we won the World Cup, we won the AFCON and I was saying last time that there are some countries that make me proud as an African in our continent and my Morocco is part of those countries."

Ouaddou adds that South Africa has impressed him during his time in the country, particularly with the strong PSL representation in Bafana Bafana’s squad for the upcoming AFCON.