Casablanca – Morocco begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign on Friday when they host Gabon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The match will mark the Atlas Lions’ first competitive outing since the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Mohamed Ouahbi’s first AFCON qualifier as head coach. Gabon, meanwhile, begin a new era under Sébastien Migné, following Aubameyang’s retirement from international football.
Both sides are in Group A alongside Niger and Lesotho, making Friday’s opening fixture an important first step in the race for qualification.
Match details:
Fixture: Morocco vs Gabon
Competition: TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 Qualifiers, Group A
Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Date: Friday, September 25
Kick-off: 7:00 p.m. GMT
How to watch: Arryadia/ BeIN Sports
Morocco team news
Injuries/Suspensions: Morocco will be without Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, who are suspended for the opening qualifier. Hakimi’s absence means Noussair Mazraoui is likely to start at right-back.
Returns/Doubts: Brahim Diaz remains a major doubt after joining camp with persistent muscular discomfort. The Real Madrid forward did not complete Tuesday’s training session and will need to be assessed before Friday’s match.
Ouahbi has added Ilias Akhomach to the squad, giving Morocco another option in attack should Diaz remain unavailable.
Recent Form: Morocco enter the qualifiers after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. They also have a strong recent record against Gabon, winning their two meetings during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers by 4-1 and 5-1.
Key Players: Soufiane Rahimi will be one of Morocco’s main attacking outlets, while Bilal El Khannouss and Azzedine Ounahi can provide creativity and control in midfield. Abde Ezzalzouli’s pace could also be important against a Gabon side expected to defend compactly.
Likely XI: Bounou; Mazraoui, Aguerd, Diop, Salah-Eddine; Ounahi, El Aynaoui; El Khannouss, Ezzalzouli, Akhomach; Rahimi.
Diaz could come into the lineup if cleared to play.
Gabon team news
Injuries/Suspensions: Gabon will be without Mario Lemina and Jim Allevinah after both players were ruled out with injuries. Migné has called up Randy Essang Matouti and Clech Loufilou as replacements.
Returns/Doubts: Migné still has several experienced internationals at his disposal, including Denis Bouanga, Guélor Kanga, André Poko and Ibrahim Ndong. However, Gabon will have to adapt quickly as the match represents Migné’s first competitive game in charge.
Recent Form: Gabon struggled at the 2025 AFCON, losing all three group-stage matches. Their World Cup hopes also ended in the African playoffs after a 4-1 extra-time defeat to Nigeria.
The Panthers have also struggled against Morocco recently.
Key Players: Denis Bouanga is expected to take on greater attacking responsibility following Aubameyang’s departure. Shavy Babicka offers pace in the final third, while Kanga and Poko bring experience to midfield.
Likely XI: Amonome; Anthony Oyono, Appindangoye, Jérémy Oyono, Ekomie; Poko, Kanga, Ndong; Bouanga, Babicka, Effaghe.
What to expect
Morocco should look to take control early, using possession and movement between the lines to break down Gabon’s defense. The absence of Hakimi and Saibari will force Ouahbi to make adjustments, while Diaz’s fitness could determine how much attacking freedom he has available.
Gabon are likely to focus on staying organized and exploiting spaces on the counter. Bouanga and Babicka can cause problems if Morocco commit numbers forward, particularly with the Atlas Lions expected to dominate possession.
The match also gives Ouahbi an opportunity to begin shaping Morocco’s next competitive cycle. With several younger players now part of the squad, the coach will be looking for a strong start while balancing experience with new options.
For Migné, the challenge is different. He inherits a team going through a transition after Aubameyang’s retirement and will need to quickly establish a structure capable of competing against Morocco away from home.
