Soccer-Morocco under pressure to repeat World Cup heroics at AFCON

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Morocco v Peru - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 28, 2023 Morocco coach Walid Regragui reacts REUTERS/Susana Vera

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Morocco set new standards for African football just over 12 months ago at the Qatar World Cup but the pressure is now on to improve a dismal record in the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on Saturday.

Morocco became the first Arab and African country to reach a World Cup semi-final in their thrilling run that captivated the continent but they are now expected to take that form into the Cup of Nations and expunge a record of consistent failure.