Friendly showdown: Morocco women face Mali in WAFCON build-up

Morocco’s women’s national team will face Mali in a friendly match on Friday as preparations continue for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

The fixture will take place at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 PM French time, or 6:30 PM local time in Morocco.

The match will be broadcast live on Arryadia, offering supporters the opportunity to follow the encounter as both teams continue their build-up to the continental tournament.

Originally, Morocco had been set to face Ghana during this international window.

However, the fixture was revised, with Mali stepping in as the opponent for this latest preparation match.

The change has not altered the broader objective for the Atlas Lionesses, who are using these games to fine-tune their approach ahead of a major competition they will host.

The Moroccan side, led by Ghizlane Chebbak, enters the match on the back of a series of positive results.

Their most recent outing saw them secure a 3-0 victory over Tanzania at the same venue earlier in the week.

That performance extended a run of encouraging displays, reinforcing the team’s growing confidence.

Prior to that result, Morocco had also faced Burkina Faso in two matches during the previous international break.

They recorded a comprehensive 5-0 win in the first meeting before drawing 1-1 in the second, maintaining an unbeaten record across those encounters.

Taken together, these results underline a period of consistency for the Atlas Lionesses.

They remain unbeaten in their last three matches, with two victories and one draw, and will be aiming to extend that sequence against Mali.

The upcoming match also offers an opportunity to revisit a recent competitive meeting between the two sides.

At the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July, Morocco faced Mali in the quarter-finals and emerged with a 3-1 victory.

On that occasion, Ibtissam Jraidi played a decisive role by scoring twice, helping her side establish control of the match.

Kenza Chapelle added a third goal, further strengthening Morocco’s advantage.

Mali managed to respond with a late goal, but the outcome had already been decided.

That result remains a reference point as both teams prepare to meet again, albeit in a friendly context.

While the stakes are lower than in tournament play, the match still carries significance as part of each side’s preparations.

For Morocco, the focus remains on maintaining momentum and refining their tactical approach.

Hosting the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations places additional emphasis on readiness, with the team seeking to build form and cohesion in the lead-up to the competition.

Mali, meanwhile, are also preparing for the same tournament and will view the fixture as an important test.

Matches against strong opponents provide an opportunity to assess performance levels and identify areas for improvement.

The setting of the match in Rabat ensures continuity for Morocco, who have already played at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium during this international window.

Familiarity with the venue may offer a degree of advantage as they continue their preparations.

As the countdown to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations continues, fixtures such as this play a key role in shaping expectations.

While results in friendly matches do not carry the same weight as competitive fixtures, they contribute to the broader process of preparation.

For both Morocco and Mali, the meeting represents another step in that journey.

Morocco will look to extend their unbeaten run and maintain their positive form, while Mali aim to test themselves against a side that has shown consistency in recent matches.

آخر حصة تدريبية لمنتخبنا النسوي قبل لقاء منتخب مالي

Last settings before facing Mali#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/f2rUjxdYFO

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) April 16, 2026