Morocco will have a new opponent for their final international fixture of the current window, with Mali set to face the Atlas Lions on October 4 at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
The match was originally scheduled against Ghana, but the Ghana Football Association informed the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) that it was withdrawing from the fixture, citing “internal reasons” without providing further details.
Kickoff remains scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday.
A Late Change to the International Schedule
The change became possible after the scheduled friendly between Mali and Tunisia was also cancelled.
Mali had been due to face Tunisia on October 3 at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, but the Tunisian Football Federation announced that the fixture would not go ahead following discussions with head coach Moïn Chaâbani and an agreement with the Malian Football Federation.
No further explanation was provided regarding the cancellation.
That opened the door for Mali to take Ghana’s place in Morocco’s schedule, ensuring that the Atlas Lions will still have a competitive international fixture to close the window.
The New Opponents’ AFCON Campaign
The Malian national team are also competing in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, giving the October meeting an added competitive dimension.
They began their campaign with a 3–1 victory over Cape Verde before drawing 0–0 with Liberia on September 29.
The friendly in Tangier will therefore come at a useful moment as both teams continue preparing for their respective international commitments.
Morocco Enter the Friendly on a Winning Run
The Atlas Lions have enjoyed a positive start to the international window.
Under Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco opened their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 2–0 victory over Gabon in Rabat on September 25.
Four days later, they recorded another 2–0 win against Lesotho in Bloemfontein, giving them six points from their opening two qualifiers.
The October friendly will now provide another opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the squad and give players valuable international minutes.
Another Test in Tangier
With Ghana no longer on the schedule, the new opponent will provide a different tactical and physical challenge for Morocco.
The match will also give Ouahbi another opportunity to assess his options and continue developing the squad during a busy period of international football.
After two successful qualifying matches, the Atlas Lions will now look to finish the international window with another strong performance in front of their home supporters.