Rabat – Morocco face Mali today at the Grand Stade de Tanger in an international friendly that will conclude the Atlas Lions’ September-October international window.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s side enter the match after making a perfect start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, beating Gabon 2-0 in Rabat before recording another 2-0 victory over Lesotho in Bloemfontein.
Mali have also won both of their opening AFCON qualifiers. The Eagles defeated Cape Verde 3-1 before winning 1-0 away to Liberia, giving both teams strong form heading into Sunday’s meeting.
The friendly was originally scheduled to be Morocco against Ghana, but the Ghana Football Association withdrew for “internal reasons.” Mali, whose planned friendly against Tunisia was also canceled, subsequently replaced the Black Stars.
The countries last met during the 2025 AFCON group stage in Rabat, drawing 1-1 on December 26.
Match Details:
Fixture: Morocco vs Mali
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier
Date: Sunday, October 4
Kick-off: 6:00 p.m. GMT Morocco time
How to watch: Arryadia and Al Aoula in Morocco, with beIN Sports 6 also carrying the match. The game can also be followed through SNRT’s digital platforms.
Morocco Team News
Injuries/Absences: Noussair Mazraoui will miss the game after leaving the national-team camp and returning to Manchester United. The defender picked up a problem during Morocco’s victory against Lesotho and was released before the squad traveled to Tangier.
Nayef Aguerd has been following a carefully managed return-to-competition program after missing the trip to South Africa. His involvement against Mali will depend on the technical and medical staff’s assessment.
Morocco had already entered the international window without several injured players, including Chadi Riad, Youssef En-Nesyri, Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Youssef Belammari.
Key Players: Achraf Hakimi could return to the starting lineup after beginning the Lesotho match on the bench. Brahim Diaz enters the game after scoring against Lesotho, while Ounahi also found the net in Bloemfontein.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss and Ismael Saibari give Ouahbi several midfield options, while Abde Ezzalzouli and Rahimi provide alternatives in attack.
Ouahbi has rotated significantly during his first two competitive matches, and Sunday’s friendly could offer another opportunity for younger players to earn minutes.
Likely XI: Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Aït Boudlal, El Ouahdi; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Ounahi; Brahim Diaz, Saibari, Ezzalzouli.
Mali Team News
Injuries/Absences: Forward Almamy Gory left Mali’s camp because of injury after the two AFCON qualifiers and returned to his club for treatment.
Captain Yves Bissouma was not selected for this international window, while Mohamed Camara, Mahamadou Doumbia and Gaoussou Diakité had withdrawn through injury before the start of the camp.
Likely XI: Djigui Diarra; Hamari Traore, Ousmane Camara, Nathan Gassama, Daouda Guindo; Mamadou Sangare, Aliou Dieng; Dorgeles, Kamory Doumbia, Martial Tia; Sinayoko.
What to Expect
Unlike Morocco’s meeting with Lesotho, Ouahbi should expect significantly more resistance in midfield and in transition.
Mali have started Da Silva’s competitive tenure with two victories and possess several players with experience across major European leagues. Their speed in wide areas and the early form of Dorgeles and Tia should provide Morocco’s defense with a useful test.
For Morocco, the game offers Ouahbi a chance to balance experimentation with continuity. He used substantially different teams against Gabon and Lesotho and has repeatedly said he wants to give deserving players opportunities while continuing to build toward future competitions.
A full Tangier crowd should also provide a very different atmosphere from Morocco’s qualifier against Lesotho in South Africa.
Both teams enter the game after winning their first two AFCON qualifiers, making Sunday’s friendly a stronger test than the label might suggest.
