Morocco now knows its opponents for the qualifiers of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Placed in Group A, the Atlas Lions will face Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho, with a clear objective to secure their qualification for the final phase. After the draw, Mohamed Ouahbi expressed his thoughts on this group, showing both ambition and caution.
The national coach believes that Morocco has drawn familiar opponents but refuses to let his guard down. For him, the knowledge of these teams can be an advantage, provided that each match is approached with seriousness. “These are not surprises. These are teams we know. We have had the opportunity to play against them in recent years. I think it is an advantage to be able to play against teams we already know,” he stated after the draw.
Regarding Gabon, Mohamed Ouahbi reminded that the Panthers remain a team to be taken very seriously. “Gabon had a good run in the World Cup qualifiers, finishing second before losing in the playoffs. They are a present team and can be formidable thanks to their quality players. We need to approach these matches well,” explained the Moroccan coach.
The duel against Niger will also have a special flavor, with Badou Zaki on the Nigerien bench. Ouahbi did not hide his respect for the former iconic goalkeeper of the Atlas Lions. “There is a little affection in being able to meet Badou Zaki, who is a legend here in Morocco and for us, the coaches. I am very, very eager,” he confided, while highlighting the progress of this team “growing with a Moroccan coach at its head.”
The national coach also mentioned Lesotho, a team that Morocco recently faced in a tight match. “Against Lesotho, during the World Cup qualifiers, we won 1-0. We need to take these matches very seriously,” Mohamed Ouahbi reminded, aware that such encounters can quickly become tricky if the approach is not optimal.
Beyond qualification, Morocco’s ambition is clearly stated. Mohamed Ouahbi recalled that the CAN 2027 is one of the major objectives for the Atlas Lions. “As soon as the World Cup is over, we will focus on that. Winning it is one of our major goals,” he concluded. The qualifiers will take place over three FIFA windows, between September 2026 and March 2027, while the final phase of CAN 2027 will be held from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
