Madih is not raising expectations about Morocco's chances

When asked if Morocco will return from Athens with an Olympic medal, coach Mustapha Madih replied, "you never know."

While Madih keeps his cards close to his chest, the Moroccan media described the side's form as unconvincing.

Three draws in recent friendlies have left many uninterested in the country's participation in the football event.

Madih has surprisingly failed to select any of the players that took the Atlas Lions to the final of the Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

There will be no Jaouad Zairi, Youssouf Hadji or any experienced Europe-based player filling any of the three over-age spots available.

With the French league resuming at the beginning of August, Zairi and Hadji are committed to their clubs.

For Madih, though, the decision to stick with new faces suits a policy of grooming fresh talent for Morocco's senior side.

Strikers Bouabid Bouden and Mustapha Alaoui will travel to Athens as the side's hottest talents in group games against Portugal, Iraq and Costa Rica.

Fans in Morocco have been pessimistic about the team's chances

Bouden plays for French side Lens and was instrumental in the qualifiers, scoring both goals in the crucial last game against Angola in Rabat.

Alaoui is a home-grown talent who combines flair and physique to rip through defences.

Midfielder Merouane Zemmama of champions Raja Casablanca is arguably the most gifted midfielder in Morocco and goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri is a reliable pair of hands who goes as an over-aged player.

Qatar-based Otmane El Assas and Bouchaib El Moubarki, based in the United Arab Emirates, are the other players over the normal age limit of 23.