Lahrichi and Choua leading Morocco's rebuilding process
ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - Morocco are undergoing a rebuilding process with both Mohamed Choua and Abdelali Lahrichi leading the way.
The two 27-year-olds have been part of the Moroccan cast for the past five years, and, as the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifier continues in full swing, Choua and Lahrichi are doing everything they can to keep Morocco competitive.
They lead the way on and off court.
"GIVE US A MONTH OR SO, AND WE ARE GOING TO CLICK AS A TEAM, AND THE RESULTS WILL SHOW."
And Lahrichi, who sat out Morocco's game against Rwanda due to a leg injury, showed his vocal leadership from the stands at the Al Ittihad Stadium, home to Group E's First Round in Alexandria.
He was seen clapping, instructing and living the game intensively from the sidelines.
Morocco are drawn with Cape Verde, Egypt and Uganda and in order to advance to the Final Round next year in Rwanda they will need to bring their A-game.
"Winning as many games left as possible, that's our goal," Lahrichi told FIBA.basketball.
Morocco's new head coach Naoufal Uariachi added: "These experienced players give us the type of experience that we need to move forward."
Morocco have featured at the last ten editions of the FIBA Africa's flagship tournament, and along the way, they recorded their best result in the competition, a fourth-place finish at FIBA AfroBasket 2017.
"Soufiane [Kourodu] got hurt during our training camp last week in Turkey, once he's recovered he will be a massive addition to us. We are in good hands," Lahrichi noted.
Abdelali Lahrichi seen in action against Cape Verde
Lahrichi went on saying: "We need a bit of more time, but I am sure we'll do great in the Second Round of the Qualifiers. Give us a month or so, we are going to click as a team, and the results will show."
Team rebuilding is not an easy process to go under, insisted Lahrichi who made his debut with the Moroccan senior at FIBA AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, but he explained: "We are going to regroup straight after the First Round, and I am sure we are going to build good team.
"I am also confident that we'll secure a ticket to the African Championship, that is a competition we have been part of, and we are going to do everything we can stay there.
"It's going to be a hard process especially because of the new players coming to the national team, and the injuries that affected some players didn't help much."
Mohamed Choua has become a force to be reckoned with for Morocco in recent years
Asked about the process and future strategy in Group E, the 1.92m (6ft 3in) guard noted that Egypt, Cape Verde and Uganda are all respectable and very good teams.
"In two years time this team will be ready to fight for the African Championship, but our immediate goal is to Qualify for Rwanda 2021," Lahrichi concluded.
FIBA
