Egypt FA denies agreement on Morocco friendly amid 2027 Afcon build-up

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has denied that any agreement is in place for a friendly match between Egypt and Morocco, despite reports in the Moroccan media suggesting talks were advancing.

Moroccan outlets had indicated that the two North African heavyweights could meet in a high-profile friendly in the coming period as both sides start to plan their paths toward qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, a senior EFA source told FilGoal.com that no such deal had been reached.

“There is no truth to what is being said about an agreement to hold a friendly match between the Egypt and Morocco national teams so far,” the source said.

No fixture confirmed as coaching talks awaited

According to the EFA official, any decision on upcoming friendlies will only be taken after discussions with Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan, who is currently on leave.

“The Football Association is waiting to discuss preparations for the national team’s next phase with Hossam Hassan after his vacation ends,” the source added.

The comments appear designed to cool rising speculation about a potential meeting between two of Africa’s most prominent sides, both of whom recently exited the 2026 World Cup at the knockout stages.

Egypt and Morocco often attract significant regional and continental interest when they face each other, given their long-standing football rivalry and history of tightly contested encounters in major tournaments.

World Cup exits shaping next steps

Egypt concluded their World Cup campaign in the round of 16, suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat to Argentina. The result ended a promising run for the Pharaohs, who had hoped to progress deeper into the tournament.

Morocco, meanwhile, bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a 2-0 loss to France. The Atlas Lions had once again underlined their status as one of Africa’s strongest teams, but fell short of matching or surpassing their historic run at previous editions.

Both federations are now in the early stages of recalibrating their plans, with the focus turning from the global stage to continental competition.

Focus turns to 2027 Afcon qualification

Egypt and Morocco are preparing for the African qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where expectations will be high for both sides to comfortably secure their places at the tournament.

The 2027 Afcon will be staged across three East African nations – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – and is scheduled to be played between June and July 2027.

The expanded, tri-nation hosting arrangement is expected to present new logistical and sporting challenges for participating teams, who must carefully manage travel, scheduling and squad rotation.

For now, though, Egypt’s FA insists that any talk of a friendly showdown with Morocco is premature. The shape of the Pharaohs’ next preparation phase – including whether a glamour tie against the Atlas Lions will be part of it – will depend on the outcome of upcoming meetings with coach Hossam Hassan once he returns to duty.