National A' team coach Tarik Sektioui said on Sunday that his players will aim for victory against Saudi Arabia in the third and final matchday of Group B at the Arab Cup, in order to secure their place in the quarterfinals. «A draw is not our objective, even if it would qualify us for the next round. We want to win and finish top of the group», Sektioui said at the pre-match press conference ahead of Monday's game at Lusail Stadium (6 p.m. GMT+1). He acknowledged that «the match against Saudi Arabia, one of the strong contenders for the title, will not be easy», stressing that all games in this competition are tough, which requires respecting opponents and maintaining humility. «The gap between teams in this pan-Arab competition has begun to narrow, especially during the group stage», he observed. Sektioui also dismissed any controversy regarding the goalkeeper position, affirming that Mehdi Benabid is the number-one choice. He explained that starting Salaheddine Chihab in the opening match against the Comoros was meant to give Benabid a rest and avoid potential injury. For his part, midfielder Mohamed Moufid said preparations were taking place in a positive atmosphere, noting that players are fully aware of their responsibility to secure qualification for the quarterfinals. The Wydad Casablanca player added that the Atlas Lions are determined to win against Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that matches of this kind are often decided by small details. Meanwhile, Saudi assistant coach François Rodrigues said his team is preparing seriously for the match, even though they have already booked their place in the quarterfinals. «We will see whether we rest some key players and rotate the squad», he said, adding that Saudi Arabia's main objective will be to avoid conceding goals, unlike in previous matches. The other Group B match between the Comoros and Oman will also be played Monday in Doha (6 p.m. GMT+1).
