Morocco's Change of Opponent in Upcoming Friendly Match
The Moroccan national football team, known as the Lions of the Atlas, has officially announced a change in their opponent for the upcoming friendly match scheduled for Sunday in Tangier. Originally set to play against Ghana, the match will now feature Mali, who has stepped in due to Ghana's withdrawal from the match. The Ghanaian football federation cited internal issues as the reason for their withdrawal.
According to a statement from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), the match against Mali is set to take place on October 4, 2026, at 4 PM local time at the Grand Stade in Tangier. This friendly encounter comes at a time when both teams are looking to solidify their preparations ahead of future competitions.
Background of Cancellation and New Matchup
Mali was initially scheduled to play against Tunisia the day before their match against Morocco; however, that game was canceled as well. The cancellation of the Mali-Tunisia match was confirmed in a statement from the Malian football federation, which indicated that the decision was made in agreement with the Tunisian Football Federation. The exact reasons for this cancellation were not provided, but sources suggest that injuries to several key Tunisian players may have played a significant role in the decision. Additionally, concerns regarding Tunisia's FIFA ranking, which could be jeopardized by a poor performance, were also mentioned.
The current FIFA ranking positions Tunisia at 61st, following a tumultuous summer marked by an early exit from the 2026 World Cup and managerial changes that have led to instability within the team. After the departure of coach Sabri Lamouchi, Hervé Renard took over but resigned just 19 days later, leaving Moïn Chaabani, the former coach of RS Berkane, in charge of the national team.
As reported by leparisien.fr.
