Morocco Advance to U17 AFCON Semis with 3-1 Victory Over South Africa

Morocco’s national football team is set to face Mali in a friendly game on Sunday In Tangier.

The match is expected to be held at the Tangier Grand Stadium at 6:00 p.m., the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a press release.

The friendly fixture was supposed to be held between Morocco and Ghana. However, the Ghanaian federation informed FRMF by mail of its withdrawal for internal reasons, FRMF added.

 Morocco’s national football team defeated Lesotho (2-0) on Tuesday at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, during the second matchday of group A of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for Morocco in the 45th minute. Azzedine Ounahi doubled the tally before the end of the game (82’).

Morocco had defeated Gabon (2-0) on Friday during the first matchday at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

With these two victories, Morocco solidifies its grasp on first place of group A with six points, ahead of Niger (3 points), which is set to face off against Gabon later this evening.

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.