Benaabid: “No Room for Title Favorites Talk at Arab Cup; We’re in Top Form Ahead of UAE Match”
Mehdi Benaabid, goalkeeper for the Moroccan national reserve team, stated that the “Atlas Lions” are approaching their Arab Cup semi-final match against the UAE national team with strong determination and full readiness. He emphasized that the primary objective is to reach the final and continue their pursuit of the title. Benaabid’s remarks came during a media address following the Moroccan team’s final training session, held hours before the anticipated encounter.
The training session was marked by an atmosphere of intense focus and discipline, reflecting the significant responsibility placed on the players ahead of this crucial stage of the tournament.
The Moroccan shot-stopper explained that the technical staff has been working since the start of the competition to enhance cohesion within the squad, especially given the reliance on a new player composition. He highlighted that the team’s collective performance has shown clear improvement as the matches progressed.
In this regard, Benaabid stated: “As the matches have progressed, we have started to gel better, and now we are experiencing our best period, both mentally and physically, before the semi-final.”
The national team goalkeeper did not hide his immense gratitude to the Moroccan fans, who have supported the Atlas Lions since the very first match, whether by attending in the stands or through social media. He said: “We thank our fans who have stood by us from the beginning; their support gives us double strength and makes us fight even harder for this jersey.”
Regarding discussions about the teams favored to win the Arab Cup title, Benaabid stressed that such classifications do not determine match outcomes. He reminded everyone that the tournament has seen the elimination of teams that were considered among the top contenders, but departed the competition in early stages.
Benaabid concluded his statements by affirming the group’s ambition to go far in this tournament, emphasizing: “We are playing to win the title because we believe in our work and our ability, not because we are favorites or not.”
