AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Morocco turn attention to Lesotho after Gabon victory

Morocco’s Atlas Lions have arrived in South Africa ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho on Tuesday.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side travelled from Rabat-Salé Airport on a direct charter flight in the early hours of Sunday, less than 48 hours after opening their Group A campaign with victory over Gabon.

Morocco will face Lesotho at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein as they look to make it two wins from two in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

إلــــى جنوب إفريقيا 🦁

Destination: South Africa ✈️#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/H5PIuo4TNB

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) September 26, 2026

Morocco begin preparations in Bloemfontein

The Atlas Lions are expected to resume training in South Africa on Sunday as they prepare for their second match of the international window.

Ouahbi has planned three training sessions before Tuesday’s encounter, with the first expected to focus mainly on recovery following the journey from Morocco.

The squad will then use the remaining preparations to adapt to the conditions and finalise their approach for the meeting with Lesotho.

The trip also gives Morocco an opportunity to experience another away environment as they continue their qualifying campaign.

Atlas Lions arrive with winning momentum

Morocco head into the Lesotho game with three points after beating Gabon 2-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Friday.

Noussair Mazraoui put the hosts ahead in the 36th minute before Soufiane Rahimi added a second in the 84th minute to secure the victory.

The result gave Ouahbi a winning start in the qualifiers and Morocco will now seek another three points in South Africa.

The coach had previously warned that away matches in Africa can present different conditions and challenges outside a team’s control, describing such experiences as important to the squad’s development.

Morocco arrive after difficult weekend in South Africa

The team’s arrival also came against the backdrop of a difficult weekend in South Africa following two separate mass shootings in other parts of the country.

Police said 17 people were killed at a tavern in Wedela, Gauteng province, southwest of Johannesburg, while another 10 people were killed in a separate shooting in Lwandle near Cape Town in the Western Cape.

Authorities launched investigations and manhunts following the attacks.

Morocco will now focus on football as they complete their preparations for Tuesday’s Group A qualifier against Lesotho, with a second consecutive victory their immediate target.