The Moroccan national football team will play against Gabon on Friday in Franceville. The match marks Morocco’s first away game in over nine months, following its quarter-final loss to South Africa on January 30 in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
African stadiums outside of Morocco have historically proven challenging for the Atlas Lions. Historically, games against sub-Saharan African teams often test Morocco due to difficult climate conditions and intense local support.
Over 22 years have passed since Morocco last won when playing in Gabon’s territory. In its 20 previous matchups, Morocco holds ten wins, Gabon has taken six, and four games ended in draws. Only two of Morocco’s victories against Gabon came on away soil, compared to eight on home ground.
Speaking about the upcoming game, Moroccan coach Walid Regragui noted the difficulty of the match during a press conference on Tuesday. “We know it won’t be easy since they’re playing at home and fighting for an Africa Cup of Nations spot. We’re facing a different environment with fresh challenges.”
Regragui explained that his players are feeling the physical toll of playing every three days across multiple leagues but insists this won’t hold the team back. “Fatigue is no reason to hold back. We’ll go to Gabon to win and keep our momentum.”