AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Morocco’s starting XI against Lesotho

This update focuses on Morocco Lesotho AFCON 2027. Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has announced his starting XI to face Lesotho, a game closely followed by fans at home and by Moroccans living abroad.

Morocco Lesotho AFCON 2027: the starting XI

For this second matchday in Group A of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Mohamed Ouahbi is betting on a line-up that blends experienced players with emerging talents.

The starting XI against Lesotho is as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou
• Defenders: Diop, Noussair Mazraoui, El Ouahdi, Aït Boudlal
• Midfielders: El Aynaoui, Tergalane, Azzedine Ounahi
• Attackers: Saibari, El Khannouss, Díaz

This selection underlines the staff’s intention to build a competitive core from the very start of the qualifiers, in a Group A where every point will matter.

A promising start for the Atlas Lions

The Atlas Lions have already made a positive start to their road to AFCON 2027. In their opening game, Morocco beat Gabon 2–0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.

This first win sets a strong tone ahead of Morocco Lesotho AFCON 2027. Fans are watching closely to see if the team can maintain this momentum, especially those abroad who adjust their schedules and time zones to follow the matches live.

For many Moroccans overseas, these fixtures are a way to feel closer to home. Match nights turn into family gatherings or community events in cafés, cultural centres and associations.

Sporting stakes and symbolic impact

Beyond the sporting challenge, each qualifier is an opportunity to strengthen Morocco’s image on the African stage. A solid qualification campaign for AFCON 2027 would confirm the Atlas Lions’ status among the continent’s leading teams.

For Moroccans abroad, following this campaign helps keep a living connection with the country, pass on passion for the national team to younger generations and sustain a sense of belonging, even from a distance.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation regularly publishes information and updates on the national team on its official website: frmf.ma, a useful resource for fixtures, results and official announcements.

Building consistency for the rest of the qualifiers

With this starting XI against Lesotho, Mohamed Ouahbi continues to shape a group capable of coping with the pace of competitive matches and long trips across the continent.

His choices, balancing continuity and rotation, will be carefully analysed by supporters both in Morocco and abroad. Each performance in these qualifiers will weigh on the road to AFCON 2027 and on the ambitions of the national team.

Canal212 will keep covering the Atlas Lions’ journey and providing Moroccans worldwide with key updates on fixtures, results and highlights from this qualifying campaign.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.