After a long absence: Atlas Lions kick off their 2027 Africa Cup journey against Gabon

The start of the African qualifiers

The Moroccan national team begins its journey in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a highly anticipated match against Gabon. The game will take place next Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, starting at 7:00 PM, as part of the first round of Group A.

Ambitions for a positive start

The Atlas Lions are looking to achieve a strong and positive start in these qualifiers, which also include Niger and Lesotho alongside Morocco and Gabon. Following this opening match, the national team will travel to South Africa on Tuesday, September 29, to face Lesotho in the second round of the qualifiers.

Importance of the match and selection choices

The clash with Gabon is of great significance, as it marks the first official match for the national team since its participation in the 2026 World Cup. In this context, national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi continues to build the team’s identity and refresh the squad for the upcoming phase.

For this international window, Ouahbi has summoned a list of 29 players, which featured the return of defender Nayef Aguerd, as well as several prominent young names, including Soufiane El Fouzi, Yasser Zoubiri, Taoufik Bentayeb, and Abdellah Ouzzane. This move aims to provide new elements with the opportunity to shine with the senior team and capitalize on home-field advantage to secure a successful start.