Goal.com

May 24, 2012 8:45:00 AM

Both coaches are keen on having a test run of their remodelled teams ahead of next month’s Fifa World Cup qualifying matches

MOROCCO Nadir, Abourrazouk, Said, Berrabeh, Adoua, Hermach, Belhanda, Ait-Fana, Chatibi, Salhi, El Arabi

SENEGAL Coundoul, Camara, Abdoulaye Ba, Mane, Konate, Cisse, Kouyate, Balde, Gueye, N’diaye, Sy

Morocco coach Eric Gerets seems to have heeded some lessons from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations where his team lost their first two games and failed to progress from the group stage despite the presence of some outstanding players in the outfit. It may be too early to call it a change of strategy but the Belgian’s 26-man list published ahead of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying depicts the beginning of a reform.

Arsenal forward Marouane Chamakh, Hadji Youssouf, Taarabt Adel, Carcela Francois, Kantari Ahmed and El Kaddouri Badr were all simply dropped and replaced by a bunch of vibrant home-based players, whom the coach will try out against Senegal during Friday's friendly match before shepherding the set up to the June hostilities.

Senegal have been perturbed by administrative instability of late and are yet to regain the high spirits of the 2012 Afcon qualifying days. Four coaches have come and gone at the helm of the team since February and most of the top players seem reluctant to report to camp.

The star-studded Teranga Lions are still haunted by broken dreams from the Gabon and Equatorial Guinea showpiece, and the way forward seems cloudy, after assistant coach Joseph Koto was hurriedly assigned as caretaker after former Cameroon coach Frenchman Pierre Lechantre stepped down.

However, both coaches appear determined and confident and the meeting will most likely be used to restructure the new squads both men want to present to the world next month.

• Morocco moved up to 60 on current Fifa rankings and are 10th on the continent.

• The sides last met in August 2011 in Dakar, with the Lions of Atlas stunning the home team 2-0.

• French-born Montpellier winger Karim Ait-Fana has been called up to the Moroccan national team for the first time.

• Coach Eric Gerets threatened to resign this week after some local clubs refused to release called-up players.

• Senegal captain Mamadou Niang has announced he will be stepping down for the younger generation.

• Coach Joseph Koto will be using some players from the Olympic team, which has qualified for the London 2012 Olympic football tournament.

• Senegal has announced their bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

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