Morocco’s senior national football team face Niger on Friday, November 13, at the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca in the third matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The match is expected to draw a large crowd and take place in a lively atmosphere.
Firmly at the top of Group A with six points from two matches, following identical 2-0 wins over Gabon and Lesotho, Morocco will be looking to maintain their winning run and reassure the public after their most recent performance, which was considered unconvincing.
A notable feature of Friday’s match is Morocco’s return to the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca, where the team has not played since June 13, 2022, during the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON. On that occasion, Morocco beat Liberia 2-0, with goals from Fayçal Fajr and Youssef En-Nesyri.
A win before the return leg
Morocco head into the highly anticipated match in good form. Currently ranked seventh in the FIFA world rankings, Mohamed Ouahbi’s team will face Niger, who are ranked 111th. The gap between the two sides is considerable, and Morocco will be expected to live up to their status as the higher-ranked team.
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However, Ouahbi must contend with a lengthy injury list. Several key players are unavailable, including Ismaël Saibari, Soufiane Rahimi, Azzedine Ounahi, Chadi Riad and Ayoub El Kaabi, who had already withdrawn from the squad. Neil El Aynaoui was subsequently added to the list after experiencing discomfort in his ankle. He left the national team camp to return to his German club, RB Leipzig.
Despite these absences, the coach has several options at his disposal. Morocco have enough depth to cope with the situation, which also gives Ouahbi an opportunity to give other players a chance, assess their performances and see whether they can establish themselves in the squad.
“Donor” takes center stage
Four years after their last appearance at the iconic stadium in the Kingdom’s economic capital, Morocco’s national team will return to the venue. The occasion is also an important one for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The Mohammed V Complex is expected to be packed, setting the stage for a major football celebration.
As usual, passionate supporters of Achraf Hakimi and his teammates are expected to travel in large numbers from across the country and beyond to cheer them on. Morocco will be looking to reward that support with a convincing performance and another win to maintain their confidence.
“For me, this will be my first time in Casablanca. We know how passionate the supporters are here. It will be a real pleasure, and I hope we can make them proud by winning here,” said Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Manchester City midfielder. Several of his teammates share his enthusiasm as they prepare to experience “Donor” and its atmosphere for the first time.
Morocco and Niger will meet again on Tuesday, November 17, in Rabat for the second leg of their double fixture in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Morocco-Niger match will kick off at 20:00 GMT and will be broadcast live on national television channels Al Aoula and Arryadia via digital terrestrial television (TNT). The game will also be shown on beIN Sports 1 and the TOD platform.
