Participating in the AFCON with Morocco signifies a “double dose of pleasure” for Amine Harit, a Marseille player who faced a severe injury just before the 2022 World Cup, where his team reached the semi-finals for the first time. Nevertheless, the winger expresses no desire for revenge as he prepares to confront Tanzania this Wednesday.
“I don’t even know what I would be avenging” stated the player in late December during a press conference organized by Marseille with various media outlets.
“I am even more motivated now that I have lost something fantastic” affirmed the player.
Wearing the jersey and singing the national anthem always brings the same pride, especially after losing the World Cup. It’s a double dose of emotion, a double dose of pleasure. Losing something makes us realize its importance,” adds the Moroccan winger (20 caps, 1 goal), who participated in the first game of the 2018 World Cup (a 1-0 defeat to Iran).
In 2022, he endured a knee ligament rupture in a match against Monaco, rejoining the group at the end of the World Cup, on crutches, on the field after the defeat in the semi-finals to France (2-0). “While it closed some wounds, it didn’t diminish my desire to watch the games,” he reflects.
🙏🏼🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/nT7zaC2xD9
— Amine Harit (@Amine_000) January 4, 2024
“I’m optimistic that there won’t be any issues this time, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to compete in such a significant tournament with Morocco, immediately following the World Cup” he expressed.
A Atlas Lion since 2017, he missed the last two editions of the AFCON and is gearing up for his debut in 2024. “Despite lacking prior experience, I’ve played numerous games in African countries, so I anticipate it will pose a considerable challenge” he declared.
Harit anticipates encounters with “highly physical teams, a markedly different climate characterized by significant humidity, fields that are occasionally challenging to play on, and a distinct African atmosphere with vibrant chants.”
For the 26-year-old player, Morocco’s journey to the World Cup semi-finals may serve as motivation for opponents.
“We shouldn’t focus solely on ourselves, as our World Cup participation motivates all teams facing us” Harit advises.
“While being a World Cup semifinalist is commendable, it won’t propel us beyond the group stage of the AFCON” cautions the player trained in Nantes.
