Morocco have made a perfect start to their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, and Mohamed Ouahbi insists the approach will remain unchanged: the Atlas Lions want to win every match.
Following their 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat, Morocco secured another 2-0 win against Lesotho in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock shortly before halftime before Azzedine Ounahi sealed the three points with a late second goal.
The result leaves Morocco with six points from two matches and firmly in control of their opening qualifying campaign.
The Same Winning Mentality
Speaking after the victory in South Africa, the national team coach made it clear that Morocco will not change their approach for the matches ahead.
- “For us, the plan has not changed. It is to try to win all our matches.”
The next challenges will come against Niger, with the two sides set to meet twice during the November international window. Morocco will then face Gabon again before completing their group campaign against Lesotho at home.
For Ouahbi, the objective remains consistent regardless of the opponent.
More Than Just Three Points
While winning remains the priority, the September window has also allowed the coaching staff to evaluate different options within the squad.
Several younger players and newcomers were given opportunities during the two matches, while established internationals continued to play important roles.
- “We know that we are a team with big ambitions,” Ouahbi explained. “We also know that these matches help us prepare in the best possible way, by giving minutes to players who deserve them and trying certain things.”
That balance between results and preparation has been an important feature of Morocco's opening qualifiers.
Every Opponent Deserves Respect
The coach also stressed that Morocco cannot afford to approach matches differently based on the reputation or FIFA ranking of their opponents.
For the Atlas Lions, every fixture is another opportunity to maintain standards and continue developing the team.
- “The most important thing, in my opinion, is that we play these matches, whoever the opponent is, with great seriousness,” he said.
- “That is what we have been doing from the beginning, and we will continue in the same way.”
Six Points From Six
Morocco have now defeated Gabon and Lesotho by identical 2-0 scorelines, giving them a perfect start to Group A.
The qualifying campaign will resume in the November international window, with Matchdays 3 and 4 scheduled for November 9–17. The final two rounds will follow between March 22 and 30, 2027.
With six points already secured, the Atlas Lions will now turn their attention to the next stage of the campaign while continuing to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.
For Ouahbi and his players, the message is simple: prepare seriously, respect every opponent and keep playing for victory.