New Morocco coach Herve Renard hailed his team on Wednesday after they became the first qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
The 47-year-old who guided Zambia and the Ivory Coast to the most prized African football trophy was speaking after a 2-0 home win over Cape Verde sealed first place in Group F.
“I was amazed by the determination they displayed,” he said after a second-half brace from Youssef El Arabi secured victory in Marrakech.
“It is important that we maintain in future games the same mindset that was shown when we beat the No. 1-ranked African team twice within four days.
“What we achieved was considerable, but we must remain calm and begin preparing for the finals,” he told reporters.
Renard replaced Badou Zaki as coach of under-performing Morocco a month ago and made a winning debut last Saturday with a 1-0 success in Cape Verde.
The coach, who believes wearing a white shirt on match days brings luck, sprang to prominence in 2012 when he steered Zambia to Africa Cup glory.
Pre-tournament no-hopers, the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) beat Didier Drogba-captained Ivory Coast on penalties in a Libreville final after 120 goalless minutes.
Perennial underachievers Ivory Coast were next to benefit from Renard, winning the 2015 final against Ghana in Equatorial Guinea on penalties after another goalless decider.
Morocco have set the Frenchman, once a garbage collector and night-time cleaning contractor in Paris, the stiff targets of reaching the 2017 Cup of Nations semi-finals and qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
The Atlas Lions went into back-ot-back qualifiers against Cape Verde trailing on goal difference, but now have an unassailable six-point advantage.
Renard Hails Morocco After AFCON Qualification
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