Posted By: Lucien Lefevre Preud’homme
Following the national football team’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of lowly Mozambique in the African Cup of Nations qualifier, the former Olympique de Marseille coach might be shown the door
Moroccan football is in crisis. And, the crisis could take a serious turn following the national side’s 2-0 defeat at the hands ofMozambique in a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier. The scoreline was one of the biggest surprises of the third qualifying round and the surprise result is indeed a slap on the face of national team manager, Eric Gerets.
The Moroccan manager’s popularity level is at an all-time low. Since January 6, 2012, the Atlas Lions have not registered a single win. To make matters worse, the Moroccan fans have failed to come to terms with the team’s early dismissal in the last CAN. The Atlas Lions failed to progress through to the knockout phase of the competition earlier this January.
Today, the position of Eric Gerets as the national team manager is under scrutiny and the Belgian manager might even be fired by the end of this week.
However, it appears that despite losing support from fans, the 58-year-old has sympathisers left in Morocco. Former Morocco international, Regragui Walid has sympathised Geret’s plight as he feels that the Belgian is a good manager but staying as the national side’s coach could be very hard.
“I feel very sad for him after the CAN because he is a good coach. I was the first to defend him but knowing the Moroccan people, it will be hard for him to stay. This defeat is perhaps one of the worst in our history, especially when we have a group with Assaidi, Boussafa, El-Arabi, Belhanda, Taraabt, El-Hamdaoui,” says the former Ajaccio star.
Medi 1 star journalist, Jalal Bouzrara has also reflected on the lack of support around the under-pressure manager. He feels that there is too much anger in public and that everyone is lashing at Gerets.
“Anger is really great. Today, all the newspapers, TVs and radios are lashing at him. It gets really unbearable.”
Having a cult and iconic status at Canebiere, the Lion of Rekem has not been able make a strong impression during his two-year sojourn in Morocco and perhaps, it’s time for Gerets to take a breather.
Tagged in: Morocco, Olympique de Marseille, African Cup of Nations, eric gerrets, Regragui Walid, Jalal Bouzrara, atlas lions
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