Morocco begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Gabon this Friday, September 25, at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The match will be the Atlas Lions’ first official outing since the 2026 World Cup.
Placed in a group alongside Gabon, Niger and Lesotho, Morocco will open their qualifying campaign at home before travelling to South Africa on Tuesday, September 29, to face the Crocodiles of Lesotho on matchday two.
Mohamed Ouahbi has called up 29 players for this international window, including the return of Nayef Aguerd and several young players such as Soufiane El-Faouzi, Yassir Zabiri, Tawfik Bentayeb and Abdellah Ouazane.
Morocco will nevertheless have to cope with several absences. Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari are suspended for the match, while Ayoub El Kaabi and Chadi Riad are unavailable due to injury.
Brahim Diaz, who missed the final training session after arriving from Madrid with some muscle discomfort, is also doubtful. Ouahbi made a last-minute call-up for Ilias Akhomach of Villarreal to provide another attacking option.
During their final training session, the Atlas Lions worked on possession, small-sided games, passing sequences and various situations designed to sharpen their understanding on the pitch.
With only hours remaining before the start of their qualifying campaign, the main focus was on putting the final details in place without putting too much strain on the players.
The session also showed that the new players called up by Ouahbi are settling into the squad well. Working alongside the more experienced members of the team, the newcomers are gradually finding their place and becoming fully involved in the group. The senior players, meanwhile, are helping them adjust both on and off the pitch.
Yassine Bounou, who took part in the session, particularly stressed the Atlas Lions’ happiness at being back together with the national team just weeks after their World Cup campaign.
“Thank God, the players arrived in good conditions. We really wanted to be back with the national team, especially in front of our home crowd. We are genuinely very happy,” the Morocco goalkeeper said.
Bounou is not expecting an easy evening, however. Having faced Gabon several times, he knows the Panthers’ ability to trouble Morocco. “It will be an intense match. As we know, Gabon are not an ordinary opponent. This team has always caused us problems, whether in qualifiers or at the Africa Cup of Nations,” he warned.
For Gabon, the match comes against the backdrop of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s retirement from international football. The striker, captain and emblematic figure of the Panthers has announced his decision to end his international career.
The opening match should give Ouahbi’s side an opportunity to lay the foundations for their qualifying campaign before their trip to South Africa to face Lesotho on Tuesday, September 29.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals are scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Morocco-Gabon will kick off this Friday, September 25, at 7 p.m. Moroccan time and will be broadcast on Arryadia TNT, beIN Sports MENA 3 and TOD TV.
