Rabat – South African referee Tom Abongile will officiate Morocco’s opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Gabon, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) referees committee announced on Wednesday.
Abongile has been appointed to take charge of the Group B encounter, which will see Morocco face Gabon on Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. local time.
The appointment comes as Morocco begins its campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The Atlas Lions will look to start their qualifying campaign with a positive result on home soil against a Gabon side featuring several experienced players.
Abongile, who represents South Africa, has previously officiated matches in African competitions under CAF. His appointment places him in charge of one of Morocco’s first steps toward securing qualification for the continental tournament.
Morocco will enter the qualifiers after reaching the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. The national team will now turn its attention to the 2027 edition and aim to secure an early advantage in the qualifying campaign.
Friday’s fixture in Rabat will therefore mark the beginning of Morocco’s road toward the next Africa Cup of Nations.
