Morocco begin their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign against Gabon at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah on Friday, with Mohamed Ouahbi’s side aiming to build on an impressive World Cup campaign.
The two teams are joined in Group A by Lesotho, who were also in Morocco and Gabon’s qualifying group for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while Niger complete the section.
Ouahbi, 49, has had limited time to shape the national team since succeeding Walid Regragui in March. Regragui left after Morocco’s controversial Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final against Senegal, while Ouahbi had previously guided Morocco Under-20s to a world title in Chile.
Morocco did not match their historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, but they impressed at this year’s tournament in North America. They drew with Brazil in their opening Group C match before defeating Scotland and Haiti to finish second.
Their campaign ended with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat by France, although penalty shootout victories over the Netherlands in the last 16 and Canada in the last 16 had already secured another memorable tournament for the Atlas Lions.
Morocco, ranked sixth in the FIFA world rankings, have not lost at home in normal time since a 3-1 friendly defeat by Burkina Faso in July 2025. That sequence also includes their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 matches at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.
Gabon, ranked 84th, suffered heavily against Morocco in the previous qualifying campaign, losing 4-1 and 5-1. The Panthers have now gone three matches without beating their opponents.
Although Gabon finished second in their 2025 qualifying group, they lost all three matches at the finals, against Cameroon, Mozambique and Cote d’Ivoire. Their World Cup qualifying campaign was more encouraging, with a second-place finish behind Cote d’Ivoire before a 4-1 extra-time defeat by Nigeria in the play-offs.
Gabon have lost five of their past six matches. Their only victory in that run came on penalties against Trinidad and Tobago after a 2-2 draw. New head coach Sebastien Migne must improve their consistency while rebuilding an attack following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international retirement.
Morocco will be without captain Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, who are suspended by CAF following the incidents in the 2025 final. Ayoub El Kaabi, Chadi Riad, Youssef Belammari, Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane are also unavailable through injury or a lack of match fitness, while Sofyan Amrabat has declared himself unavailable.
Noussair Mazraoui, Brahim Diaz and Soufiane Rahimi remain key options. Gabon are missing the injured Mario Lemina and Jim Allevinah, replaced by Clech Loufilou and Randy Essang Matouti. Denis Bouanga and Rody Junior Effaghe are expected to lead the attack.
Probable teams
Morocco: Bounou; Mazraoui, Aguerd, Diop, Salah-Eddine; Ounahi, El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, El Khannouss, Ezzalzouli; Rahimi.
Gabon: Amonome; A. Oyono, Appindangoye, J. Oyono, Ekomie; Poko, Kanga, Ndong; Bouanga, Babicka, Effaghe.
Morocco are predicted to win 2-0. The listed selections are fewer than 2.5 goals at 2.10, both teams not to score at 1.48, and a correct 2-0 scoreline at 5.00.