Morocco has perfectly launched its qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Gabon (2-0) this Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Noussair Mazraoui opened the scoring in the first half before Soufiane Rahimi secured the victory for the Atlas Lions in the final minutes.
The men of Mohamed Ouahbi quickly took possession of the ball against a Gabonese team that was organized in a compact block. Azzedine Ounahi was particularly active in the offensive play. After a first attempt that narrowly missed in the 11th minute, the Moroccan midfielder troubled the opposing defense again before hitting the crossbar with a curled shot in the 26th minute.
Morocco’s dominance was finally rewarded in the 36th minute. Noussair Mazraoui found the opening to allow the Lions to head into the locker room with a logical advantage. Up to that point, Morocco had created several interesting situations, notably through Abde Ezzalzouli, while Ayyoub Bouaddi stood out for his activity in recovering the ball and progressing it forward.
Gabon showed a more enterprising face after the break and managed to put more pressure on the Moroccan defense. Yassine Bounou was decisive several times to maintain his team’s advantage. The Lions experienced a second half that was less controlled, but they did not yield to Gabon’s attempts.
Substituted into the game, Soufiane Rahimi ultimately freed Morocco in the 84th minute by scoring the second goal. The Moroccan forward quickly made an impact after his entry and sealed the success of the Atlas Lions. After his goal, Rahimi also paid tribute to his father in his celebration.
With this 2-0 victory, Morocco earns its first three points in Group A and successfully begins its campaign in the 2027 CAN qualifiers. The Atlas Lions will continue on Tuesday, September 29, against Lesotho in Bloemfontein, South Africa, for the second matchday.
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