2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Atlas Lions Begin Preparation for Upcoming Fixture Against Gabon

Morocco’s national football team held its first training session at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora as the squad began preparations for its upcoming fixture against Gabon in the opening matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The first training session was devoted to getting the players back into shape and implementing the preparation program drawn up by the technical staff, according to a statement from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

All the players called up took part in the session, except Ismael Saibari and Achraf Hakimi, who are expected to join the squad on Wednesday.

The Atlas Lions will continue their preparations at the same complex over the coming days, with a view to being in the best possible condition for their upcoming fixtures.

The national team will face Gabon on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Morocco’s second qualifier will be against Lesotho next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The Atlas Lions will also face Ghana in a friendly on October 4 at the Grand Stadium in Tangier.

Morocco will kick off the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on September 25, 2026, against Gabon in Rabat, before heading to South Africa to face Lesotho on September 29 in Bloemfontein.

The national campaign will thus begin in these continental qualifiers against Gabon on September 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced Monday in a press release.

South African referee Abongile Tom has been appointed to officiate the face-off.

On the second matchday, the national team will make for South Africa to face Lesotho on September 29, 2026, at 3 p.m. (local time) at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

This match will be officiated by Cameroonian referee Abdou Abdel Mefire, the same source concluded.

English club Manchester City announced on Wednesday the signing of Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.

The 18-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Citizens. He particularly stood out during the 2026 World Cup with the Atlas Lions. He started in five of the six fixtures played by Morocco, which reached the quarterfinals.

“This is a very special day for me and my family. Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world. It’s a dream to be here and to be able to call myself a City player,” Bouaddi said.

“I’ve spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game,” he added.

Bouaddi will join a revamped midfield, as City has already signed English international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Bouaddi’s signing comes following the departure of Brazilian winger Savinho, who joined Tottenham earlier this week.

Morocco’s quarterfinals campaign during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside the strong performances of other African national teams in the tournament’s advanced stages, is “a source of pride and honor for all Africans,” the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, said on Wednesday in Johannesburg.

“The fact that a national team has the honor of competing in this tournament, the world’s most prestigious football event, is already an immense source of pride for all of us,” Motsepe said during a press conference reviewing Africa’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

He added that the outstanding performances of Moroccan football, highlighted by the national team’s qualification for the quarterfinals, along with the advancement of several African teams to the knockout rounds and later stages of the competition, “will help strengthen African football’s standing and reinforce the respect and recognition it enjoys on the international stage.”

Motsepe also announced CAF’s intention to convene an expanded meeting bringing together, at the request of several participating countries and tournament officials, football stakeholders and partner organizations to discuss strategies aimed at preserving this continental momentum and further advancing the development of African football.

African teams delivered a historic performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with nine nations reaching the Round of 32, while Morocco advanced to the quarterfinals, confirming its continued progress after its historic run to the semifinals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Morocco climbed to a record sixth place in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking released on Monday, following the Atlas Lions’ run to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The North African side gained one position from the June rankings, reaching its highest-ever ranking since the FIFA Men’s World Ranking was introduced in 1993.

Morocco now has 1,803.99 points, an increase of 48.89 points from the previous edition, and trails fifth-ranked Brazil by less than one point.

The Atlas Lions are ranked ahead of Portugal, which dropped two places to seventh, as well as Belgium (8th), the Netherlands (9th), and Mexico (10th).

World Cup champion Spain moved to the top of the rankings with 1,995.88 points, overtaking Argentina, which slipped to second after losing the final. France and England retained third and fourth places, respectively.

Morocco remains Africa’s highest-ranked team, ahead of Senegal (18th), Egypt (24th), Nigeria (26th), and Algeria (29th). Norway recorded the biggest rise in the July rankings, climbing 12 places to 19th, while Tunisia registered the largest drop, falling 12 places to 57th.

Spain also posted the largest points gain (+121.17), while Panama recorded the biggest points loss (-60.74).

Morocco national football team head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said on Tuesday in Salé that the Atlas Lions’ campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a source of pride given the quality of football the team displayed throughout the tournament.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamoura to review the Atlas Lions’ participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Ouahbi said the team’s ambition had been to go as far as possible in the competition. However, he noted that their quarter-final exit against France also offers an opportunity to reflect on the right questions in order to continue improving in the future.

Assessing the Atlas Lions’ performance in the quarter-final against France, the coach said, “We lacked attacking penetration and could have done more to disrupt France’s game. They were a very strong opponent.”

“We came away from the quarter-finals with greater certainty, and that is the most important thing for us,” he added, noting that this will help the team make the best choices going forward.

Ouahbi praised the players who took part in the World Cup, saying they “carried us to the quarter-finals and gave us unforgettable moments,” while adding that “the players who were not selected will also play an important role in the upcoming competitions.”

According to Ouahbi, “the important thing is to continue maintaining high standards in player development and in the quality of the players we recruit so that we can go even further in future competitions.” He added that the Moroccan national team has the quality and performance needed to surpass its historic 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar.

Regarding his assistant coach João Sacramento, Ouahbi confirmed that he will remain part of the Moroccan national team’s technical staff, noting that the Portuguese coach “has been deeply committed and has become attached to Morocco. His work has been extremely valuable because he brings a great deal to the national team.”