Morocco and Algeria Shine in Opening Matches

In the initial round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Morocco and Algeria both achieved impressive victories, while Egypt struggled to secure a win. On September 25, Morocco faced Gabon and triumphed with a score of 2-0, showcasing their strength and determination on the pitch. The match took place in Rabat, where the Moroccan side, known as the Atlas Lions, aimed to build momentum after their recent exit from the World Cup quarter-finals against France. Despite the absence of their captain Achraf Hakimi due to injury, Morocco opened the scoring in the 36th minute through Noussair Mazraoui, whose powerful shot from 20 yards out caught Gabon's goalkeeper Jean-Noël Amonome off guard. The Moroccans maintained control throughout the match, with Soufiane Rahimi sealing the victory with a second goal in the 84th minute, assisted by Bilal El Khannouss.

Meanwhile, Algeria made a strong statement in their match against Zambia, winning 3-1 in a game that marked the debut of new head coach Brahim Hemdani. The Algerian team, having recently parted ways with coach Vladimir Petkovic, started on a positive note with an early goal from Jaouen Hadjam just two minutes into the match. Although Zambia managed to equalize in the second half, Algeria quickly regained the lead with goals from Ibrahim Maza and Hadj Moussa, showcasing their offensive prowess and determination to advance in the qualifiers.

Egypt's Frustrating Draw Against Angola

In stark contrast, Egypt, led by star player Mohamed Salah, faced a frustrating 0-0 draw against Angola at the International Stadium in Cairo. Despite dominating possession with 63% and registering 14 shots, only three of which were on target, the Pharaohs were unable to break through Angola's resolute defense. This disappointing result leaves Egypt searching for their first victory in the qualifiers as they prepare to face South Sudan in their next match. The encounter highlighted the need for improvement in Egypt's offensive strategy if they hope to qualify for the tournament.

In other notable matches, Mali secured a solid 3-1 win against Cape Verde, while Burkina Faso and Benin played to a 1-1 draw. The qualifiers continue to unfold, with teams eager to stake their claim for a spot in the prestigious 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

As reported by rfi.fr.