After both experiencing a flawless start to their qualification journey for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco and Mali will step away from competitive play to face each other in a friendly match at the Grand Stade de Tanger this Sunday. The two teams previously clashed in December during the 2025 AFCON, where they played to a 1-1 draw, with Lassine Sinayoko equalizing for Mali with a penalty after Brahim Diaz had put Morocco ahead.
Match Preview
The echoes of the Confederation of African Football's surprising decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title and award it to Morocco have since faded, as the Atlas Lions are currently on a promising path towards securing their place in the upcoming 2027 edition. They commenced their qualifying campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory against Gabon in Rabat, with goals from Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi. Just days later, they replicated the scoreline against Lesotho in Bloemfontein, South Africa, showcasing their dominance with over 70% possession and a stellar performance that featured goals from Real Madrid's Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi.
Morocco's impressive form follows a remarkable World Cup run earlier this year, where they advanced past the Netherlands and Canada in the knockout stages before succumbing to France in the quarter-finals. This defeat remains their only loss in the last 37 matches across all competitions, with an impressive record of 31 wins and five draws since a narrow defeat to Kenya in August 2025.
On the other hand, Mali has also started their AFCON qualifying campaign on a high note, securing two victories from two matches and sitting joint-top of Group K alongside Rwanda. Their campaign kicked off with a 3-1 win over Cabo Verde, highlighted by a brace from Fenerbahce striker Dorgeles Nene and an early goal from Ange Tia. In their second match, Tia's goal secured a 1-0 win against Liberia, marking a significant turnaround after a challenging run of form that saw them go winless in three matches prior to these qualifiers.
Historically, Mali has held its ground against Morocco, boasting six wins and six draws in their last 21 encounters. However, they have not tasted victory in their last four meetings, with two draws and two losses since their last win in May 2006. With Morocco currently ranked as Africa’s top national team in the FIFA World Rankings, sitting in 6th place globally, Mali faces a considerable challenge ahead.
Team News
Morocco's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, is likely to rotate his squad following their successful qualifying matches, possibly giving starting opportunities to players such as Anass Salah-Eddine, Soufiane El-Faouzi, and Anderlecht's Tawfik Bentayeb. Achraf Hakimi, who came off the bench against Lesotho after missing the first match, may also be rested along with Noussair Mazraoui, who has been a key player in their qualifying campaign.
For Mali, teenage sensation Tia, who has scored twice in their qualifiers, is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup. Veteran striker Sinayoko, who has netted ten goals for his country since his debut in 2021, will likely lead the attack once more, supported by a strong midfield pairing of Aliou Dieng and Brentford's Mamadou Sangare. Coach Anthony da Silva is anticipated to field a robust defensive line with Daouda Guindo, Nathan Gassama, Ousmane Camara, and captain Hamari Traore, while Djigui Diarra is set to guard the goal.
As both teams prepare for this friendly clash, Morocco's home advantage and current form make them the favorites, although Mali's recent resurgence could present a formidable test for the Atlas Lions. We predict a closely fought match, with Morocco emerging victorious by a narrow margin of 2-1.
As reported by sportsmole.co.uk.
