Morocco - Gabon

Morocco host Gabon on 25 September 2026 for this Africa Cup of Nations qualification matchday 1 encounter. The two sides meet with a history of high-scoring affairs, most notably in late 2024 when Morocco dominated their qualification meetings. Morocco secured a 5-1 victory over Gabon on 15 November 2024, following a 4-1 win earlier that September. These results highlight a significant attacking threat from the hosts, who have consistently found ways to dismantle the Gabonese defensive structure in recent competitive meetings.

Gabon will look to stabilize their defensive approach after struggling to contain their opponents in recent years. Their last competitive draw against Morocco occurred during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations group stage, where they shared the spoils in a 2-2 result. As the qualification campaign begins, the visitors must find a tactical balance to disrupt Morocco's rhythm. Both teams enter this opening round looking to establish early dominance in Group A.