Rabat – Morocco will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign next month with two important Group A fixtures against Gabon and Lesotho, as the Atlas Lions look to secure their place at the continental tournament in East Africa.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed South African referee Abongile Tom to oversee Morocco’s opening match against Gabon on September 25.
The game will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. local time, according to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
Four days later, Morocco will travel to South Africa to face Lesotho in their second qualifying match. Cameroonian referee Abdou Abdel Mefire will officiate the September 29 encounter at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, with the match scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local time.
Two important games for Morocco
Morocco was drawn in Group A alongside Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho. The qualification format is straightforward: the top two teams in the group will advance to the 2027 AFCON finals, which will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The September double-header could therefore have a major impact on the group standings.
Morocco will have the advantage of playing their first match at home against Gabon before traveling to South Africa for the meeting with Lesotho. Six points from the two games would put the Atlas Lions in an extremely strong position and would mathematically guarantee them a place in the top two of the group after the opening two matchdays.
However, Morocco will need to remain focused, particularly against Gabon, who is considered their main challenger for the top spots in Group A.
The qualifiers will continue in November, when Morocco will face Niger in the third and fourth matchdays, before completing the group stage with their final two games in March 2027.
Morocco holds strong recent record against Gabon
The opening fixture against Gabon will also renew a familiar rivalry between the two sides.
Morocco and Gabon have met numerous times over the years, with their most recent encounters coming during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
The Atlas Lions won both matches comfortably, recording a 4-1 victory in Agadir in September 2024 before securing an emphatic 5-1 win in Franceville in November 2024.
The two teams also met during the 2022 AFCON, where they played out a 2-2 draw. Morocco have therefore enjoyed a particularly strong run in their most recent competitive meetings with the Panthers.
Historically, however, the fixture has been more closely contested. Morocco has recorded 11 wins, four draws, and six defeats in 21 meetings listed by 11v11.
The September clash will therefore give Gabon an opportunity to respond after their heavy defeats in the previous AFCON qualifying campaign, while Morocco will aim to maintain their recent dominance.
Lesotho also familiar to the Atlas Lions
Morocco’s second opponent, Lesotho, represents a different challenge.
The Atlas Lions have also faced Lesotho recently, with Morocco winning both of their latest encounters according to available head-to-head records.
Despite Morocco’s advantage on paper, the away fixture could present additional challenges. The match will not be played in Lesotho but at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, meaning Morocco will have to deal with an away environment while playing only four days after their home clash with Gabon.
The importance of collecting points against Lesotho is particularly clear given the qualification format. Morocco will be expected to compete for the top position in Group A, and dropping points against one of the lower-ranked teams could complicate their route to qualification later in the campaign.
Who Are the Referees?
South African referee Abongile Tom will take charge of the opening match against Gabon.
Tom has been a FIFA-listed international referee since 2020 and has officiated at major African competitions, including the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the African Football League, and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Interestingly, Tom is already familiar with Morocco and Gabon. He officiated their previous AFCON qualifying meeting in Franceville in November 2024, when Morocco defeated Gabon 5-1.
Cameroonian referee Abdou Abdel Mefire will then handle Morocco’s encounter with Lesotho.
Mefire, born in August 1996, has experience in CAF competitions and international qualifiers. His previous assignments include matches in Africa Cup of Nations qualification, World Cup qualification, the CAF Champions League, the CAF Confederation Cup, and other continental competitions.
His appointment adds another international official to Morocco’s opening qualification fixtures as CAF begins its refereeing assignments for the campaign.
Morocco’s route to qualification
With six group matches to play, Morocco’s objective will be to finish among the top two in Group A.
The ideal scenario would be six points from the opening two games. Two victories over Gabon and Lesotho would give Morocco a perfect start and mathematically secure a top-two finish after the second matchday, regardless of the other results.
Even if the Atlas Lions fail to win both matches, strong results in September would provide valuable momentum before the November fixtures against Niger.
Morocco will therefore enter the campaign as one of the strongest teams in Group A, but the September double-header remains important. A strong start would reduce pressure on the team during the later stages of qualification and allow the Atlas Lions to approach the remaining fixtures from a position of strength.
The first test will come against Gabon in Rabat on September 25, followed by the trip to Bloemfontein to face Lesotho four days later.
