Morocco begin the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations crown against Gabon in the opening round of qualifying for the 2027 tournament, with the visitors arriving determined to take a valuable point from a difficult first assignment.
Morocco start another title campaign
The Moroccan side return to competitive action with a familiar core of players following a run to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Their group-stage campaign included victories over Haiti and Scotland, as well as a draw with Brazil in their opening match, before France ended their progress.
That sequence reinforced Morocco’s standing as a resilient and competitive international team. They now turn their attention to a new African qualifying campaign after securing the previous continental title through an off-field ruling.
- Match: Morocco v Gabon
- Competition: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
- Round: Matchday one
- Morocco’s objective: begin the defence of their continental title
Gabon seek a stronger return
Gabon do not begin the fixture as favourites, but a draw would represent an important outcome in their first qualifier. Their most recent Africa Cup of Nations appearance, in 2025, ended without a point in the group stage.
They were beaten in each of their three group matches, losing to Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Cameroon. The trip to Morocco therefore offers an immediate test of whether they can put that campaign behind them and make a more stable start on the road to 2027.
Key figures in the fixture
- Morocco’s recent World Cup group record: two wins and one draw.
- Morocco’s World Cup exit: defeat to France in the quarter-finals.
- Gabon’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations record: three matches, three defeats.
- Gabon’s group-stage opponents in 2025: Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Cameroon.
