Morocco’s Lions arrive in Tangier ahead of Mali friendly

Yesterday 17:14

The Morocco national football team has reached Tangier ahead of its final international fixture of the current break, with the Lions of the Atlas preparing to face Mali in a friendly at the Grand Stade on Sunday.

The Moroccan delegation left Rabat on Friday, October 2, travelling aboard the Al Boraq high-speed train before arriving in Tangier at around 4 p.m. The squad then continued its journey toward the northern outskirts of the city, where it will be based during its stay.

The team was taken to Le Mirage hotel, near the famous Hercules Caves, following its arrival. The transfer was carried out under heightened security, with motorcycle officers from the Tangier police prefecture accompanying the team bus along the route through the Rmilat forest area and Cap Spartel toward Achakar.

Final preparations before the Mali test

Before travelling north, the Moroccan squad completed its final training session at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora. The session was held without Noussair Mazraoui, who returned to Manchester after sustaining an injury during Morocco’s most recent outing.

The absence of the Manchester-based defender leaves the national team with an adjustment to make ahead of a meeting with a physically competitive Mali side. The friendly will give Morocco an opportunity to assess its squad depth while maintaining momentum during the international window.

For coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s group, the match also provides a different type of challenge from the competitive fixtures that opened the latest phase of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Morocco carrying winning momentum

Morocco enters the Tangier encounter after a strong start to its CAN 2027 qualifying campaign. The Lions defeated Gabon 2-0 before recording an identical result against Lesotho.

Those two victories gave Morocco six points and placed the national team temporarily at the top of Group A after the opening two matchdays.

The Mali friendly will therefore serve as the closing chapter of the current international break, with attention turning to how the squad performs against a side regarded as a demanding opponent.

With the Grand Stade set to host the encounter, Morocco will look to conclude its international commitments with another competitive display as preparations continue for the next stages of its continental campaign.

Tangier ready to host the Lions

The arrival of the national team adds another major sporting event to Tangier’s calendar. From its hotel near the Hercules Caves to the Grand Stade, the Moroccan delegation will spend the final days of the international window in the northern city.

The match against Mali is scheduled for Sunday and will bring together two African national teams using the fixture to test their squads and maintain competitive rhythm ahead of future official commitments.