Morocco seek alternative opponents as Ghana friendly faces uncertainty

Morocco’s friendly against Ghana on 4 October is in doubt, with the Federation royale marocaine de football (FRMF) exploring alternative opponents for the match at the Grand Stade de Tanger.

The fixture is scheduled for next Sunday, but Ghana’s preparations have been disrupted by an internal dispute involving the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and several players. The issue is reportedly linked, at least in part, to bonuses, although the precise nature of the disagreement has not been established.

According to insider Youssef, Ghana’s international players do not want to travel to Morocco. The fixture has not been officially called off, however, and the FRMF is still waiting for a definitive response from its Ghanaian counterpart.

Morocco have made an ideal start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, winning both of their matches. The Atlas Lions defeated Gabon 2-0 in Rabat on 25 September before beating Lesotho 0-2 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday.

The friendly was intended to provide a competitive fixture during an extended international break which runs until 6 October. With the Ghana match now uncertain, the FRMF has begun considering other options.

Youssef reported that the federation, led by Fouzi Lekjaa, had contacted Mali and Cape Verde. Journalist Drissa Niono added that Mali were the leading alternative, as their own friendly against Tunisia on 3 October is also under threat.

Mali have matched Morocco’s record in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, recording victories over Cape Verde and Liberia. They won 3-1 against Cape Verde before securing a 0-1 success against Liberia.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, have endured a difficult return to competitive action despite being a sensation at the World Cup against Argentina and reaching the last 16 at the 2026 World Cup. The Blue Sharks have lost both of their qualifying matches, including a second defeat on Tuesday when they were beaten 1-2 by Rwanda.

Ghana are also under pressure after suffering two losses in their qualifying group. Carlos Queiroz’s side were beaten 2-0 by Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan in their opening match and then surrendered to a 2-4 defeat by Gambia at home on Tuesday.

The Black Stars, who were notable absentees from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, are already six points behind the two qualifying places in their group. Their participation in the planned friendly against Morocco remains unresolved.