Morocco coach Gerets expects attacking game against Tunisia

By Peter Auf der Heyde Jan 22, 2012, 11:03 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Title contenders Morocco hope for a good start into the Africa Cup of Nations against regional rivals Tunisia, coach Eric Gerets said on Sunday.

Gerets, who was capped 86 times as a defender for Belgium, told dpa on Sunday that he expected an attacking game rather than caution on Monday in Libreville.

'It will be a game with two teams who will attack, but not forget to defend also, because if you go 100 per cent to attack then you receive a goal and it is difficult afterwards to come back from that,' Gerets said.

Morocco and Tunisia are in group C of the January 21 - February 12 competition along with co-hosts Gabon and Niger.

In the absence of defending champions Egypt, as well as traditional African footballing powerhouses Cameroon and Nigeria, the competition is considered wide open, with Morocco being touted as one of the countries that can lift the trophy.

Gerets, who has won league titles in four different countries and took over the 1976 African champions Morocco two years ago, said that he did not regard it as a drawback to face Tunisia in the first game.

'We play against Tunisia and they are with us the favorites of the group but it does not mean that we will go through. We have to see game by game,' Gerets said.

'The first game is extremely important because it takes the pressure away if you are able to win it. But if you don't win it, it will be a lot of pressure for the remaining matches.'

Tunisia defender Karim Haggui told dpa that his team faces a tough task in the opener, naming Morocco 'a very difficult opponent' and 'one of the best African teams. They are very disciplined and have a lot of potential.'

However, the Mainz defender said that his team was also capable of lifting the trophy a second time, after initial success in 2004.

'We can beat any team at this tournament. I hope that we are in top form tomorrow (Monday),' Haggui said.

Morocco is the first national team coaching position for Gerets after having been in charge of his former club PSV Eindhoven, as well as, amongst others, Kaiserslautern, Wolfsburg, Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille.

The Belgian also said that he was impressed with the organization of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

'The facilities are amazing. I know it is more difficult in Africa than in Europe, but people are really trying to give the best they have. Up to now, there is nothing to complain about,' he said.

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