Nous – not available for Saturday’s Manchester derby – is now preparing with his team-mates for Sunday’s final against Senegal (kick-off 19:00 GMT), where they have the opportunity to be crowned champions of Africa for the first time in 50 years.
The Atlas Lions have won the trophy once previously, in 1976, and will be familiar with their surroundings at the weekend, as the game is due to be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where each of their six previous outings in the tournament have been hosted.
Morocco finished top of Group A with seven points after wins over Comoros and Zambia sandwiched a draw with Mali. They only conceded one goal in the group phase and are yet to have their rearguard breached in the knockout rounds, seeing off Tanzania (last 16) and Bryan Mbeumo’s Cameroon (quarter-finals) without reply, to boast the competition’s best defence.
Senegal, meanwhile, topped Group D and have since beaten Sudan, Mali and Egypt. The 2021 winners – their lone success at the tournament to date – beat the latter 1-0 on Wednesday thanks to a goal from former Liverpool man Sadio Mane.
