Morocco chose Ghana after Argentina friendly fell through

Morocco explored the possibility of hosting Argentina but will instead face Ghana on 4 October after FIFA dates and travel plans prevented the proposed fixture from being arranged, manager Mohamed Ouahbi said.

The match will be played at the Grand Stade de Tanger, following Morocco’s two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho. Ouahbi said his priority had been to complete the programme with a team that had appeared at the most recent World Cup.

Ghana ultimately met that requirement, although Morocco also held discussions with several other international sides.

“It is true that there was a possibility of playing Argentina. It was a request from them,” Ouahbi said when asked why Burkina Faso and Benin had secured fixtures against the South American champions while Morocco had not.

“We negotiated with several countries. I will not go into details about who refused or who did not,” he added, confirming that Ghana was not the only option considered.

The talks with Argentina were advanced. Journalist Veronica Brunati reported earlier that the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) had offered about $1m to the Asociacion del Futbol Argentino (AFA) to bring the Argentina team to Rabat.

Argentina eventually opted to remain at home for its October fixtures. The team will play Bolivia on 30 September, Burkina Faso on 3 October and Benin on 6 October, all on Argentine soil.

Ouahbi said the location of those games was a decisive factor in the failed negotiations.

“The South Americans were impossible. They had blocked out their FIFA dates and most of them were staying in South America or Central America,” he explained.

Morocco wanted an arrangement suited to its own preparations, while Argentina preferred to host its matches. As a result, Burkina Faso and Benin were able to take up the opportunity by travelling to Buenos Aires.

Their selection does not necessarily mean they were preferred to Morocco on sporting grounds. The proposed Moroccan fixture was based on different logistical and preparation requirements, including the desire to play at home.

For the second time in a year, a high-profile meeting between Morocco and Argentina has therefore failed to take place. Argentina will host Burkina Faso and Benin, while Morocco will welcome Ghana.

Ouahbi defended the decision to face the West Africans, praising both their recent World Cup showing and their manager.

“Ghana remain a good team. They had an interesting World Cup and have an experienced manager, Carlos Queiroz, so they are a good opponent for us,” he said.

The fixture therefore fulfils Morocco’s original objective of testing the squad against another team involved in the 2026 World Cup, rather than pursuing a prestigious name regardless of the conditions.