The Moroccan national football team, also known as the Atlas Lions, commenced their training sessions in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on September 27, 2026. This marks the beginning of their preparations for the upcoming match against Lesotho, scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The team arrived in South Africa the previous day and conducted their first training session at the Ramabodu Stadium in the Rocklands area. The session focused on technical and tactical aspects of the game.
All players, except for Nayef Aguerd, participated in the training session. Aguerd is continuing his rehabilitation program at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Mourtada, Morocco, under the supervision of the technical staff of the under-23 national team. He is expected to rejoin the team once he has fully recovered. The team's coach, Walid Regragui, had previously stated that Aguerd's absence from the Lesotho match was due to his ongoing rehabilitation.
The Moroccan team will be boosted by the return of defender Achraf Hakimi, who has served a one-match suspension imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Hakimi's suspension was a result of incidents that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. His return is expected to strengthen the team's defense ahead of the Lesotho match.
In other news, Moroccan player Soufiane Rahouli, who plays for the Royal Army Club, has suffered a serious injury. He has been diagnosed with a fracture of the tibia and will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program under the supervision of the club's medical team. The expected duration of his absence from the pitch is between four to six weeks.
The Moroccan national team's match against Lesotho is part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The team is looking to secure a win to advance in the competition. The Atlas Lions have been preparing intensively for this match, focusing on their strategy and teamwork.
Morocco's Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, has expressed his support for the national team ahead of the Lesotho match. He emphasized the importance of the team's performance in the qualifiers and encouraged the players to give their best.
The Moroccan national team's training sessions will continue in the coming days as they prepare to face Lesotho. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. The match against Lesotho is expected to be a challenging one, and the team's strategy and teamwork will be crucial in securing a win.
Key points
- The Moroccan national team starts training in South Africa ahead of their match against Lesotho.
- Defender Achraf Hakimi returns to the team after serving a one-match suspension.
- The team will be without Nayef Aguerd, who is still recovering from an injury.
