Morocco have quickly turned their attention to the next challenge in their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, travelling to South Africa on Saturday morning after opening the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Gabon.
The Atlas Lions departed from Rabat-Salé Airport just one day after their successful opening-night performance at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Their next assignment will come on Tuesday, September 29, when they face Lesotho at Vodacom Park Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 1:00 PM.
A Quick Turnaround for the Atlas Lions
There has been little time for Morocco to celebrate their opening victory.
After securing three points against Gabon through goals from Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi, the squad immediately began preparing for the second match of the qualifying campaign.
The short turnaround means recovery and preparation will be particularly important as Ouahbi looks to maintain the momentum from the opening fixture.
The Full Squad Travels to South Africa
Ouahbi has taken his entire squad with him for the trip, including several players who did not feature against Gabon.
Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi and Ismaïl Saibari were all present for the journey after watching the opening victory from the stands.
Hakimi and Saibari remain unavailable for the match because of their suspensions, while Diaz continues to be managed carefully following his recent physical concerns.
Tawfik Bentayeb, who recently suffered a head injury, has also travelled with the group.
Building on a Winning Start
Morocco enter the second round of fixtures with confidence after a positive opening result.
The victory over Gabon gave the Atlas Lions three points, while the performances of several emerging players provided additional encouragement for the new coaching staff.
Yassir Zabiri made his first senior start, while Abdellah Ouazane also made his first appearance for the senior national team.
The experience gained by the younger members of the squad could prove valuable as Ouahbi continues to build his team.
Lesotho Await in Bloemfontein
The next challenge will be very different from the opening fixture.
Playing away from home against Lesotho will test Morocco’s ability to manage the conditions, tempo and pressure of an international qualifier on the road.
The Atlas Lions will be looking to reproduce the defensive solidity shown against Gabon while becoming more efficient with the chances they create.
A second consecutive victory would keep Morocco firmly in control of their qualifying campaign and provide an ideal foundation for the matches ahead.
The Road Continues
The journey from Rabat to South Africa marks the beginning of another demanding phase of Morocco’s qualifying campaign.
The Atlas Lions have already secured the result they wanted from their opening match. Now, with the entire squad travelling together, Ouahbi’s side will look to build on that momentum in Bloemfontein.
Morocco’s next challenge comes on Tuesday, with three more points at stake against Lesotho.