Following two impressive victories against Gabon (2-0) and Lesotho (2-0) in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the Lions of the Atlas faced Mali on Sunday, October 4th, at the Grand Stade de Tanger. In their final outing of this international break, the team, managed by Mohamed Ouahbi, was held to a 1-1 draw against the Eagles in a friendly match.
In this encounter against the Eagles, Ouahbi once again adjusted his starting lineup, making multiple changes compared to the teams that participated in the earlier matches during this international window. Nayef Aguerd, who missed the match against Lesotho, returned to his central defensive position alongside Issa Diop. On the flanks, Ali Maamar played on the right, while Anass Salah-Eddine was deployed on the left.
In the midfield, the Moroccan coach opted for Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Azzedine Ounahi. Up front, Ismaël Saibari led the attack, with Bilal El Khannouss on the right and Abde Ezzalzouli on the left providing support.
Right from the start, in the 3rd minute, the Malians posed a threat on the counterattack. Mamadou Doumbia found himself in a promising position behind the Moroccan defense, but Yassine Bounou, alert as ever, intervened to clear the danger.
While the game remained largely concentrated in midfield for a significant period, the first real opportunity for Morocco came in the 19th minute. Ismaël Saibari, positioned within the box, attempted a low shot that was blocked by the Malian goalkeeper. Just two minutes later, after an impressive team sequence, Saibari set up Azzedine Ounahi in the box. The Moroccan midfielder managed to evade a defender but his cross-shot failed to connect with either Abde Ezzalzouli or the goal.
The Malians responded with a counter, as Doumbia came close to scoring without being able to capitalize on a dangerous cross from one of his teammates. Gradually, the Lions of the Atlas began to take control of the match and increased their offensive efforts, yet they struggled initially to break through a well-organized Malian defense.
The breakthrough finally came in the 32nd minute when Mauritanian referee Abdelaziz Bouh awarded a penalty to Morocco following a foul on Abde Ezzalzouli in the box. The Moroccan winger took charge of the penalty and successfully converted it, putting the Lions of the Atlas ahead at 1-0.
Just four minutes before halftime, Abde Ezzalzouli came close to doubling the lead. Perfectly assisted by Azzedine Ounahi, the Moroccan striker found himself in a great position, but his attempt went wide of the target.
Mali Strikes Back to Equalize
Upon returning from the break, the Malians displayed a more offensive intent, aiming to take control of the game and apply more pressure on the Moroccan defense. In response, the Lions of the Atlas retreated slightly and tightened their formation. The Moroccan block effectively contained the Malian attacks, preventing any significant threats to goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Although the Moroccans had less possession, they still sought to exploit the spaces left by the Eagles for quick counterattacks, but initially failed to seriously threaten the Malian goalkeeper. Around the hour mark, the Lions of the Atlas had a golden opportunity to extend their lead. On a counterattack, Azzedine Ounahi sped past two Malian defenders, but they managed to catch up, allowing Bilal El Khannouss to seize the ball and unleash a shot that was deflected into a corner by the Malian keeper.
Mohamed Ouahbi later decided to inject new energy into his attack, bringing on Soufiane Rahimi and Brahim Diaz in place of Abde Ezzalzouli and Ismaël Saibari, aiming to reinvigorate the Moroccan offensive play.
However, the Malians were undeterred. In the 68th minute, Gaoussou Diarra found himself in a promising position and sent a chill through the Moroccan defense, but his attempt missed the target, allowing the Lions of the Atlas to maintain their lead. Ousmane Camara also tried a powerful shot from outside the box, but Bounou remained vigilant, pushing the ball away for a corner.
In the 76th minute, the Malians finally found the equalizer. Substitute Dembélé took advantage of a well-executed free-kick from the left side, connecting with the ball using his left foot and placing it into the top corner, leaving Yassine Bounou powerless to react. The score was now 1-1.
Following Mali's equalizer, Ouahbi made additional substitutions, introducing Zakaria El Ouahdi, Gessime Yassine, and Tawfik Bentayeb for Ali Maamar, Azzedine Ounahi, and Bilal El Khannouss, respectively. In the waning moments of the match, the Lions of the Atlas pushed forward in an attempt to regain the lead but failed to break through the resolute Malian defense.
Thus, the Lions of the Atlas concluded this international break with a record of two wins and one draw. Having started their qualification campaign on a high note against Gabon and Lesotho, the men of Mohamed Ouahbi were unable to secure a third consecutive victory against Mali. This result not only left them with a draw but also cost them a spot in the FIFA rankings, as Morocco dropped to 6th place globally. The next challenge awaits in November with a double-header against Niger during the 3rd and 4th rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
As reported by sport.le360.ma.
