By Morocco Unveils Group for CAN 2025 Qualifiers: Analysis and Fixtures
The Moroccan national football team, led by coach Walid Regragui, has discovered its group for the CAN 2025 qualifiers. In this article, we reveal and analyze the opponents and fixtures that lie ahead.
Group B Opponents
Morocco will compete against Gabon, the Central African Republic, and Lesotho in Group B. The Atlas Lions, who have not won the African Cup of Nations since 1976, are assured of qualifying for the tournament since they will be the hosts in 2025. However, they must first navigate these qualifiers to regain their form and momentum.
Morocco’s Fixture Schedule
September 2, 2024: Morocco vs. Gabon (Matchday 1)
September 10, 2024: Lesotho vs. Morocco (Matchday 2)
October 7, 2024: Morocco vs. Central African Republic (Matchday 3)
October 15, 2024: Central African Republic vs. Morocco (Matchday 4)
November 11, 2024: Gabon vs. Morocco (Matchday 5)
November 19, 2024: Morocco vs. Lesotho (Matchday 6)
Group B Analysis
Qualified by default as the tournament hosts, Morocco is keen to restore confidence after their early exit in the last CAN edition, where they were eliminated in the round of 16. Gabon, with the return of star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, will pose a significant challenge after missing the last CAN but showing strong performances recently.
The Central African Republic, with standout player Geoffrey Kondogbia, has shown it can compete against top teams. Their recent matches include a 1-1 draw against Ghana in June 2022, a narrow 2-1 defeat in September, and another 1-1 draw against Mali in November.
While Lesotho is considered the underdog, they should not be underestimated. Their 1-1 draw against Nigeria in November is evidence of their potential to cause upsets.
Although Morocco’s group appears manageable on paper, caution is essential. Coach Walid Regragui is likely to emphasize this point to his squad, ensuring they remain vigilant and focused throughout the qualifiers.
