Morocco have completed their preparations in Bloemfontein ahead of Tuesday’s AFCON 2027 qualifier against Lesotho, with the Atlas Lions taking their final training session on the pitch that will host the match.
Following their opening 2–0 victory over Gabon, Mohamed Ouahbi’s side travelled to South Africa looking to maintain their positive start to the qualifying campaign. The final session offered the coaching staff an opportunity to make the last technical and tactical adjustments before the second match.
Final Preparations at Toyota Stadium
The Moroccan squad trained at Toyota Stadium on Monday, one day after completing their first session at Ramabodu Stadium.
The move to the match venue allowed the players to become familiar with the pitch and surroundings before Tuesday’s encounter, while the coaching staff worked on the final details of the game plan.
The atmosphere around the squad remains positive after the victory over Gabon, with the team now focused entirely on securing another important result away from home.
Aguerd Remains in Maâmora
The squad is almost complete, with Nayef Aguerd the only player missing from the group in South Africa.
The centre-back remained at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora to continue his recovery programme. The decision was taken to allow him to follow his rehabilitation protocol without making the long journey to Bloemfontein.
The rest of the squad trained, giving Ouahbi plenty of options ahead of the match.
Hakimi, Saibari and Brahim Diaz Available
There is also positive news regarding several important players.
Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, who were suspended for the opening match against Gabon, travelled with the squad and are now available for selection against Lesotho.
Brahim Diaz is also back in collective training after missing the 2–0 victory over Gabon due to muscular discomfort.
His return gives the coaching staff another attacking option, while the presence of Hakimi and Saibari further increases the depth available to the national team.
Ouahbi Has Plenty of Options
The availability of almost the entire squad leaves the coach with several possibilities when selecting his starting XI.
After using a relatively young lineup against Gabon, the return of several regulars creates greater competition for places across the team.
Ouahbi confirmed ahead of the match that only Aguerd was unavailable, meaning the final decisions will be based on the players he believes are best suited to the challenge in Bloemfontein.
No Excuses for the Atlas Lions
Morocco have also had to adapt to different conditions in South Africa, including the temperature and the playing surface.
However, the coaching staff do not want those factors to become distractions.
The message from the coach has been consistent: focus on solutions, remain concentrated and adapt to the conditions.
The Atlas Lions will therefore be expected to approach the match with the same intensity and discipline that helped them defeat Gabon in Rabat.
Another Important Step in the Qualifying Campaign
Morocco will face Lesotho on Tuesday, September 29 at 13:00, looking to add another three points to their qualifying campaign.
The match will be followed by a friendly against Ghana in Tangier on October 4, bringing Morocco’s international window to a close.
Before that, however, the immediate objective is clear: another strong performance in Bloemfontein and a positive result against Lesotho.