Morocco prepares to host Niger in Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Casablanca

The Moroccan national football team is scheduled to face Niger on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca. This match serves as the third round of Group 1 qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament that will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. While kickoff times vary by report, with some outlets suggesting 8:00 PM and others suggesting 9:00 PM Moroccan time, the match will be broadcast exclusively on beIN Sports.

Group standings and squad changes

Morocco enters the fixture at the top of Group 1 with 6 points, following previous victories against Gabon and Lesotho. Niger currently sits in third place with 3 points, a position shared with Gabon. Lesotho remains at the bottom of the group with 0 points.

The Moroccan squad has faced some recent changes due to injuries. According to Kifache, coach Mohamed Wahbi has called up Samir Mourad from Strasbourg to replace Nail El Ainaoui, who had to leave the national team camp due to an ankle injury. Additionally, Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki reported that Ismail Saibari of Bayern Munich is also absent due to injury. On a positive note, Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki also noted that young talent Ayoub Oufkir has been called up for the first time. Oufkir expressed his desire to score goals and provide assists to help the team and please the fans.

Stadium return and tournament context

The match marks a significant return for the national team, as they are playing at the Mohammed V Sports Complex after a hiatus of more than four years caused by extensive renovation and rehabilitation works. The stadium hosted a training session on Thursday, November 12, which was open to the media for the first 15 minutes.

The visiting team, Niger, is currently playing its matches on Moroccan soil because it lacks a stadium that has been approved by African football authorities. Niger's coach, Nabil Knouz, acknowledged the difficulty of facing the group leader but maintained that his team has a chance to compete for qualification.

What happens next

Following this encounter in Casablanca, the two teams are scheduled to meet again for the fourth round of qualifiers. That match is set to take place on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, in Rabat.

Glossary

• Africa Cup of Nations — The Africa Cup of Nations is a biennial football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
• Casablanca — Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco and serves as the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic coast, it is a significant financial centre and the main industrial zone in the country.
• Rabat — Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, located on the northwestern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the capital city of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region.