Morocco have wasted little time turning their attention to the next challenge.
Following their 2–0 victory over Gabon, the Atlas Lions arrived in South Africa early Sunday morning as they prepare for their second match in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
The national team will face Lesotho on Tuesday, September 29, at Vodacom Park Stadium in Bloemfontein, with kick-off scheduled for 1:00pm Moroccan time.
Morocco Arrive With Confidence
The squad travelled south after making a positive start to the qualifying campaign in Rabat.
Goals from Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi secured three points against Gabon, giving Mohamed Ouahbi a winning start to his first competitive campaign as Morocco head coach.
The result also provided a strong foundation ahead of a quick turnaround.
Now, the focus shifts from the opening victory to maintaining momentum away from home.
A Full Squad Available in South Africa
The Moroccan delegation arrived with all the players called up for the current camp.
That includes Tawfik Bentayeb, who was unavailable for the Gabon match, as well as Brahim Diaz, who has overcome the muscular discomfort that had kept him out of the opening fixture.
The presence of the attacking midfielder gives Ouahbi another important option as he prepares his team for a different type of challenge.
Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari have also travelled with the squad despite remaining suspended, continuing to support the group during the trip.
Ouahbi Looks to Refine the Details
The coming training sessions will give Ouahbi an opportunity to make the final adjustments to his tactical plans.
The victory over Gabon produced plenty of positives, but it also highlighted areas where Morocco can improve, particularly in terms of tempo and attacking fluidity.
With limited time between matches, the coaching staff must now prepare the team for a Lesotho side that could offer a different tactical challenge.
The objective will be to maintain the strengths shown in Rabat while improving the details that were less convincing.
Lesotho Await in Bloemfontein
Lesotho will enter Tuesday’s match looking to respond after losing their opening qualifier 2–1 to Niger.
That result leaves them needing a positive response, while Morocco arrive with three points already secured.
The Atlas Lions will therefore need to approach the match with the same concentration shown in the opening game, particularly given the different conditions of playing away from home.
Another Opportunity to Strengthen the Campaign
A second consecutive victory would give Morocco another important boost at the beginning of their qualifying journey.
With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, every point collected during the early stages can help build a comfortable position in the group.
For Ouahbi, Tuesday’s match is another opportunity to develop his team, assess different combinations and continue building the foundations of his Morocco project.
After a successful opening night in Rabat, the next test now awaits in Bloemfontein.