Tangier, Morocco Morocco’s national football team will face Mali in a friendly match this weekend, marking the conclusion of the team’s September-October international window. The match, set for October 4 at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier, will kick off at 6:00 p.m. GMT. The friendly replaces Morocco’s originally scheduled match against Ghana, which was canceled due to internal reasons within the Ghana Football Association.
Mali, who also had their friendly against Tunisia canceled, stepped in to replace Ghana. Both teams enter the match with strong form, having won their first two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Morocco defeated Gabon 2-0 in Rabat and Lesotho 2-0 in Bloemfontein, while Mali beat Cape Verde 3-1 and won 1-0 away to Liberia. The two sides last met during the 2025 AFCON group stage in Rabat, where they drew 1-1 on December 26. Morocco will be without Noussair Mazraoui, who left camp after picking up an issue during the Lesotho victory and returned to Manchester United.
Nayef Aguerd’s participation depends on a medical assessment following his managed return-to-competition program. Additional absences for Morocco include Chadi Riad, Youssef En-Nesyri, Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Youssef Belammari, who were already unavailable at the start of the window.
Achraf Hakimi may return to the starting lineup after beginning the Lesotho match on the bench, while Brahim Diaz and Ounahi scored in the Lesotho victory. Midfield options for Morocco include Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, and Ismael Saibari, with Abde Ezzalzouli and Rahimi providing attacking alternatives. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has rotated significantly in his first two competitive matches and may use the friendly to offer minutes to younger players.
Morocco’s likely XI is Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Aït Boudlal, El Ouahdi; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Ounahi; Brahim Diaz, Saibari, Ezzalzouli. Mali will miss Almamy Gory, who left camp due to injury after the AFCON qualifiers, and captain Yves Bissouma, who was not selected for this window. Additional absences include Mohamed Camara, Mahamadou Doumbia, and Gaoussou Diakité, who withdrew through injury before camp began.
Mali’s likely XI is Djigui Diarra; Hamari Traore, Ousmane Camara, Nathan Gassama, Daouda Guindo; Mamadou Sangare, Aliou Dieng; Dorgeles, Kamory Doumbia, Martial Tia; Sinayoko. Ouahbi expects stronger resistance from Mali in midfield and transition compared to the Lesotho match, noting Mali’s speed in wide areas and the early form of Dorgeles and Tia as a test for Morocco’s defense.
The friendly offers Ouahbi a chance to balance experimentation with continuity, building toward future competitions while giving deserving players opportunities. A full crowd in Tangier is expected, creating a different atmosphere from Morocco’s qualifier against Lesotho in South Africa. The match will be broadcast in Morocco on Arryadia and Al Aoula, with beIN Sports 6 also carrying the game, and can be followed via SNRT’s digital platforms.
