Morocco begins its journey in Africa Cup qualifiers against Gabon

Morocco begin their campaign in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when they host Gabon on Friday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, as part of the first round of Group A.

The match holds special significance for the Moroccan national team as it marks the official debut of coach Mohamed Wahbi in the continental championship qualifiers. The 'Atlas Lions' are looking to make a strong start and secure their first three points on the road to qualification for the finals.

Walid Regragui has announced a squad of 29 players in preparation for the matches against Gabon and Lesotho. The squad includes three players called up for the first time to the senior national team: Abdullah Wazan, Soufiane El Fawzi, and Yasser Zbeiri, as part of a technical approach to give opportunities to several young talents.

Morocco aim to leverage home advantage and fan support for a perfect start in a group that includes Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho, before visiting Lesotho on September 29 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, for the second round of qualifying.

Gabon enter the competition with the ambition of returning from the Moroccan capital with a positive result in a group that looks open to strong competition. The team is embarking on a new phase under the guidance of French coach Sébastien Migné, in the absence of former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following his retirement from international football, while the squad includes notable names such as Denis Bouanga, Mario Lemina, and Guelor Kanga.

Previous encounters give Morocco the advantage, having achieved four victories compared to Gabon's two, with no draws in the six matches between the two teams. The Atlas Lions have also scored 12 goals compared to Gabon's 5.

The match between Morocco and Gabon is scheduled.

The match will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, as part of the first round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The match will kick off at 19:00 Moroccan time, 22:00 Saudi, Egyptian, and Lebanese time, and 23:00 UAE time.

The task of officiating the match has been assigned to South African referee Abongile Tom, assisted by his compatriots Gerson dos Santos and Zakhele Siwela.

The channels broadcasting the match.

The match between Morocco and Gabon will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS 3 in the Middle East and North Africa.

The match will take place at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, one of the main stadiums in Morocco, which has a capacity of over 68,000 spectators.

Morocco's fans are eager for a strong start for the national team under the leadership of Walid Regragui, while the Gabonese team hopes to achieve a positive result against the hosts in the opening of their qualifying campaign.