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Morocco Faces Niger Amid Squad Shake-Up in AFCON Quest
13 Nov
Summary
- Morocco seeks a third consecutive AFCON qualifier victory.
- Several key players are absent due to injury or tactical decisions.
- Niger aims to recover from a previous loss and stay in contention.
The Moroccan Atlas Lions are set to host Niger at Casablanca's Mohammed V Stadium on Friday, November 13, 2026, for their third 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi's squad aims to secure a third consecutive victory in Group A, having previously defeated Gabon and Lesotho.
Morocco enters the match with a perfect record but without several key players, including Azzedine Ounahi and Ismael Saibari. Neil El Aynaoui withdrew due to an ankle injury, leading to the call-up of Samir El Mourabet. Youssef En-Nesyri returns to bolster the attack, while new call-ups include Ayoub Oufkir.
Niger, under coach Nabil Neghiz, has three points from their first two matches and seeks to rebound from a recent defeat against Gabon. They will rely on experienced players like Rahim Alhassane and emerging talents. The team includes Mohamed Abdouramane, familiar with playing in Casablanca.
This fixture marks Morocco's return to the renovated Mohammed V Stadium. The teams will meet again on November 17, with Niger designated as the home side despite playing in Morocco due to a lack of approved facilities in their home country.
