Morocco return to action tonight against Benin in their second outing of the international break, looking to bounce back after an unconvincing performance against Tunisia.
The match, although officially a friendly, carries weight. With the 2026 World Cup draw looming, head coach Walid Regragui is under pressure to refine his squad and pick up results that could boost the team’s FIFA ranking.
Kick-off is at 9 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and fans can catch the action live on Arryadia HD.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
The Tunisia win may have ended 2–0, but let’s not kid ourselves, it wasn’t convincing. The first half was flat, and a few big names didn’t turn up. Youssef En-Nesyri looked lost, Sofyan Amrabat couldn’t dictate the tempo, and Bilal El Khannouss seemed out of sync. Ismael Saibari, stuck out wide, was a tactical misfire.
Changes are expected. Ayoub El Kaabi is pushing for a start after strong goals-scoring form with Olympiacos in the Greek league. At the same time, Soufiane Rahimi caught the eye with a lively cameo and could feature as a second supporting striker.
Targhalline is also in contention to start as a holding midfielder ahead of Amrabat, with Regragui keen to find the perfect formula in the middle of the park.
Tactically, Morocco may switch to a more compact shape. A midfield trio of Targhalline, Ounahi and El Khannouss could offer more stability, with the latter playing closer to the final third.
In defense, Adam Masina impressed on his return and is likely to keep his place next to Jawad Al Yamiq. Achraf Hakimi remains vital down the right, and Youssef Belammari is tipped to start on the left.
The Botola Pro and Confederation Cup Champion Munir Mohamedi could replace Yassine Bounou.
Possible lineup:
Munir – Hakimi, El Yamiq, Masina, Belammari – Targhalline, Ounahi, El Khannouss – Rahimi, Ben Seghir, El Kaabi
Predicted score:
Benin are expected to sit deep and absorb pressure from a technically superior Moroccan frontline. If the Atlas Lions manage to score early, confidence will surge, and the floodgates could very well open to bang more goals.
MWN say: Morocco 3-0 Benin
