The Moroccan national team, led by coach Walid Regragui, claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Gabon in their opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match, which took place on September 25, 2026, at a yet-to-be-disclosed venue, saw the Atlas Lions dominate large portions of the game but struggle to create clear-cut chances. Morocco's first goal was scored by Noussair Mazraoui in the 36th minute, with the team's second goal coming from Sofyan Rahimi in the 84th minute.
The Moroccan team made several changes to their lineup compared to their previous World Cup campaign, with notable absences including Achraf Hakimi, Shadi Ryad, Ismail Saibari, Ibrahim Diaz, and Bilal El Khannous. The starting lineup featured Yassine Bounou in goal, with a defense comprising Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd, Issa Diop, and Ali Maamer. The midfield consisted of Ayoub Bouaddi, Nabil Ennali, and Azzedine Ounahi, while the frontline featured Abdessamad Zoulzouli, Yassin Jassem, and Yasser Zabiri.
The Atlas Lions began the match on a high note, with Zabiri coming close to scoring in the 8th minute. Ounahi also posed a threat, firing a shot from outside the box in the 11th minute and another attempt in the 18th minute. However, it was Mazraoui who broke the deadlock, scoring the opening goal in the 36th minute with a powerful shot that beat the Gabonese goalkeeper.
In the second half, Morocco continued to press for more goals, with Aguerd coming close in the 47th minute. Despite their dominance, the Atlas Lions struggled to create clear chances, and their attacks lacked potency. Coach Regragui made several substitutions, including the introduction of Rahimi and Elias Akhomach, in an attempt to boost his team's attacking threat.
Gabon had a rare opportunity to equalize in the 78th minute, but a header from a Moroccan player was cleared off the line by Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper made another crucial save in the 90th minute, preventing Gabon from scoring what would have been a consolation goal.
The win marked a positive start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for Morocco, but the team's performance was below expectations. The Atlas Lions will look to build on this result in their future matches, with the aim of securing a spot in the tournament.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Morocco's next match in the qualifiers is yet to be announced. The team's coach, Walid Regragui, will be looking to fine-tune his team's performance ahead of the tournament.
Key points
- Morocco secured a 2-0 win over Gabon in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
- The Atlas Lions dominated the match but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
- Morocco's goals were scored by Noussair Mazraoui and Sofyan Rahimi.
