Morocco: The local Lions face the Leopards of the DRC in a friendly match

Morocco’s Lions A’ are set to face the Leopards A’ of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a friendly match on March 26 as both sides step up their preparations for CHAN 2020. The encounter will serve as an important test for the two African heavyweights ahead of the continental tournament reserved for locally based players.

Having secured qualification for the final phase of CHAN 2020, Morocco and DR Congo will hold their respective training camps in Libreville. The shared location provides an ideal opportunity to organize this preparatory fixture before the teams travel to Cameroon for the competition. The friendly clash is expected to help both coaching staffs fine-tune their tactical setups and assess the physical readiness of their squads.

Under the guidance of Houcine Ammouta, the Moroccan side is aiming to defend its continental crown. The Atlas Lions A’ are the reigning champions after lifting the previous edition of the tournament. As part of their preparations in Gabon, they could also arrange an additional friendly match against the Panthers of Gabon, further strengthening their build-up to the competition.

Morocco has been drawn into Group C of African Nations Championship 2020. The Atlas Lions will open their campaign against Togo’s Hawks before taking on Rwanda. They will conclude the group stage with a clash against Uganda. The group promises to be competitive, and Ammouta’s men will be keen to start strongly as they pursue another deep run in the tournament.

On the other side, DR Congo, one of the most successful nations in the history of CHAN, has been placed in Group B. The Leopards A’ will compete against Congo, Libya, and Niger in the first round. With a proud tradition in the competition, the Congolese team will be looking to assert its experience and ambition from the outset.

This friendly between Morocco and DR Congo therefore carries significant weight. Beyond simple preparation, it pits two traditional powerhouses of African football against each other in a dress rehearsal for the challenges ahead. Both teams will view the match as an opportunity to test combinations, evaluate new call-ups, and build confidence before the tournament officially kicks off in Cameroon.

As the countdown to CHAN 2020 continues, fixtures like this provide crucial competitive rhythm. For Morocco and DR Congo alike, the March 26 encounter in Libreville could offer valuable insights and momentum ahead of their respective group-stage campaigns.