"Morocco's head coach, Walid Regragui, confirmed on Thursday that his team is ready to face Mali in the second round of Group A matches at the African Cup of Nations, which is scheduled for Friday. "Apart from Romain, who felt a slight muscle strain; Igamane, who was already aware of his injury but is making progress; and Achraf, whose recovery is going very well and who is returning strongly, the rest of the squad is ready," Regragui said during a press conference in Rabat. "It's going to be a very balanced match. We’re eager to play because it will be a real test and a genuine competition," he added. Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet praised the Moroccan side, describing it as the strongest contender to win the tournament. Meanwhile, Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma stressed his team's determination to secure a victory, saying, "We know what we want. We always fight to win." Morocco currently tops Group A with three points after defeating Comoros in its opening match, while Mali and Zambia sit on one point each following their 1-1 draw in the first round. Morocco is hosting the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, featuring 24 teams, which runs from December 21 to January 18."