Head coach of the national A' team, Tarik Sektioui, said on Wednesday in Doha that reaching the final four of the Qatar 2025 Arab Cup will require Morocco to fully capitalize on decisive moments in their quarter-final clash with Syria. Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's game at Khalifa International Stadium, Sektioui stressed that «the absence of several key players will not stop the national team from using its strengths to secure a win against Syria», while acknowledging that «the match will be difficult». He added that the technical staff intends to field the strongest possible lineup to secure a spot in the semi-finals, noting that exploiting Syria's weaknesses could ease the task for Morocco's players. Regarding preparations, Sektioui said they are progressing smoothly, as with every match in the tournament. He described the team atmosphere as «positive, marked by solidarity, responsibility, seriousness, and professionalism». For his part, goalkeeper Salaheddine Chihab emphasized that «the players' determination to reach the semi-finals grows stronger every day». On the other side, Syrian coach José Lana said his team «is preparing well for this match against a strong Moroccan side», adding that the encounter will also be «an opportunity to further develop Syria's playing style for the future». Morocco topped its group with 7 points, ahead of Saudi Arabia (6 points), Oman (4 points), and the Comoros (0 points).
