Posted 17:30 CET, 3 February 2024. Kickoff 20:00.
Morocco 1, Senegal 1, Morocco on penalties.
Senegal is the defending champion. Morocco is the World Cup semi-finalist. This is the most loaded quarter-final this tournament will have.
Senegal will try to control the central areas. Their midfield trio is the most balanced unit in the tournament. They will press in the first thirty minutes and then settle into possession when Morocco shows discomfort.
Morocco will absorb. Regragui will set up compact, with two banks of four, and wait for moments. Ziyech wide. Hakimi advancing only when the cover is set behind him. The plan is to deny Senegal the central penetration and force them wide, where the Moroccan full-backs can compress.
Mané will be the threat. He always is in these matches. Morocco's plan must include a specific structure to deny him space inside the box. If Mané gets clean shots from inside, Senegal wins. If he is forced to take them from twenty yards, Morocco's centre-backs win the duel.
The match will go to penalties. Bono saves twice. Morocco advance.
Final prediction: 1-1 after extra time, Morocco through on penalties.