AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Ouahbi sets clear target for Morocco after Lesotho win

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi says the Atlas Lions will continue to target victory in every match after beginning their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with two wins.

Morocco defeated Lesotho 2-0 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday to make it six points from their opening two Group A matches.

Brahim Diaz opened the scoring shortly before half-time, before Azzedine Ounahi added a second in the 82nd minute.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Ouahbi said Morocco’s approach would remain unchanged as they continue their qualification campaign.

“For us, the plan has not changed. It is to try to win all our matches,” Ouahbi said.

“We have two matches against Niger coming up, and after that we will face Gabon again and then Lesotho at home. So we will continue with the same plan.”

Ouahbi wants to use qualifiers to test players

The Morocco coach also explained that the qualifying campaign provides an opportunity for his technical team to give playing time to players and assess different options.

“We know that we are a team with big ambitions,” he said. “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.”

Several younger and newer players were included in Ouahbi’s first senior Morocco squad during the September international window.

The coach has also stressed the importance of approaching every opponent with the same level of seriousness, regardless of their ranking or reputation.

“The most important thing, in my opinion, is that we play these matches, whoever the opponent is, with great seriousness,” Ouahbi said. “That is what we have been doing from the beginning, and we will continue in the same way.”

Morocco maintain perfect start

Morocco began their Group A campaign with a 2-0 home victory over Gabon before recording the same scoreline against Lesotho.

The Atlas Lions are competing alongside Gabon, Niger and Lesotho in Group A.

CAF’s qualifying format consists of six home-and-away matchdays, with the top two teams in the group advancing to the 2027 AFCON finals.

The campaign will resume during the November international window, scheduled for 9-17 November, when Matchdays 3 and 4 will be played.

The final two rounds are scheduled for 22-30 March 2027.