Rabat – Gabon’s Minister of Sports, Paul Ulrich Kessany, visited his country’s national team at its hotel in Rabat ahead of Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Morocco.
Kessany, a former Gabon international and captain, held a meeting with the coaching staff and players in what was described as a friendly and lively atmosphere.
During the meeting, the minister delivered a message of support from both Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and the Gabonese people.
“Beyond sporting considerations, the unconditional support given by the Gabonese people is what confirms this support. The Gabonese people do not demand just a result, but a real battle, and to show pride and represent the country’s tricolor flag in a way worthy of facing the Moroccan giant,” Kessany said.
Drawing on his own experience with the national team, Kessany also urged the players to put past disappointments behind them and focus on their desire to win.
His visit comes as Gabon prepares for a difficult meeting with Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
Despite Gabon being considered among the less-favored teams heading into the match, Kessany called on the Panthers to show their best level.
“Gabon must show the best it has, and this will be achieved through sporting spirit,” he said.
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Morocco and Gabon Have a long history
Morocco and Gabon have met 21 times in international football, with the Atlas Lions winning 11 encounters, Gabon winning six, and four matches ending in draws, according to 11v11’s head-to-head record.
Their first listed meeting came in April 1977, when Morocco defeated Gabon 5-1 in a friendly. Morocco also won their December 1988 friendly 5-2.
The Atlas Lions continued their strong record in the 1990s. Morocco defeated Gabon 1-0 in September 1993 before recording two wins during the 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign. Morocco won 4-0 in Gabon in April 1997 and followed that with a 2-0 home victory in August of the same year.
Gabon then enjoyed a period of success in the early 2000s. The Panthers defeated Morocco 2-0 in September 2000 and 1-0 in June 2001. These matches were part of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, rather than matches at the 2000 and 2001 AFCON final tournaments.
Morocco responded in the following AFCON qualifying cycle, defeating Gabon 1-0 away in September 2002 and 2-0 at home in June 2003. The Atlas Lions also recorded a 6-0 friendly victory over Gabon in November 2006.
Gabon dominated the 2010 qualifying meetings
Gabon recorded two important victories over Morocco during the 2010 qualification campaign.
The Panthers won 2-1 in Morocco in March 2009 before securing a 3-1 victory at home in October of the same year.
Those matches formed part of the joint qualification system for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon also defeated Morocco 3-2 in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, giving the Panthers another competitive victory over the Atlas Lions.
The two sides then drew 1-1 in a friendly in March 2014. Their January 2016 meeting ended 0-0, while another goalless draw followed in October 2016 during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Morocco then returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Gabon in October 2017.
Gabon won their next meeting, a 3-2 friendly in October 2019, before the teams played out a 2-2 draw at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which was played in Cameroon in January 2022.
Morocco won the last two meetings
The most recent two encounters have strongly favored Morocco.
The teams met in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with Morocco hosting Gabon in Agadir on September 6, 2024.
The Atlas Lions won 4-1, with Hakim Ziyech scoring twice from the penalty spot, while Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi also found the net. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored Gabon’s only goal. CAF confirmed the result and the goalscorers.
Morocco then completed the double in the return fixture in Franceville on November 15, winning 5-1. The result was recorded by CAF as part of the fifth round of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
The two victories gave Morocco a 9-2 aggregate score across their two meetings in that qualifying campaign.
The results were also part of Morocco’s perfect qualifying campaign. The Atlas Lions finished the group stage with six wins from six matches, while Gabon finished second in the group with 10 points.
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Gabon looking to change the recent trend
While Morocco have the stronger overall record, the history between the two sides also includes important victories for Gabon, particularly during the 2002 AFCON qualifiers and the 2010 World Cup/AFCON qualifying campaign.
The Panthers will therefore enter Friday’s match with a history that includes both successes and difficult defeats against Morocco.
Kessany’s visit was aimed at reinforcing the team’s morale before the encounter. The minister called on the players to move beyond previous disappointments and represent their country with pride.
For Gabon, the challenge will now be to turn that motivation into a strong performance against a Moroccan side that won their two most recent meetings by an aggregate score of 9-2.
The match will take place on Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, with both teams beginning their campaigns in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
