Ounahi Pulls the Strings Without Díaz
Morocco secured a 2-0 victory against Gabon in their opening fixture of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, overcoming the absence of Real Madrid attacker Brahim Díaz. Watched from the stands alongside Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari due to injury, Díaz observed his national team teammates manage the fixture without him as he continues rehabilitation work with the medical staff to return as soon as possible.
In the playmaker’s absence, former Girona midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who now plays for Panathinaikos, shouldered the creative burden for the Atlas Lions. Ounahi dictated the tempo early, generating three dangerous scoring opportunities within the opening 15 minutes of the match, including a strike that rattled the crossbar and nearly opened the scoring.
Mazraoui Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough arrived past the half-hour mark when Noussair Mazraoui unleashed a powerful right-footed drive from the left side of the penalty area.
Second-Half Lapses Invite Pressure
However, the fluid momentum displayed by the Moroccan side during the opening forty-five minutes dropped significantly after the interval. Lapses in intensity from Abde Ezzalzouli, Ounahi, and Benjamin Bouaddi allowed Gabon back into the contest, granting the visiting side repeated opportunities to equalize.
Gabon, playing without injured star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, leaned on alternative attacking options to find an equalizer. Despite mounting pressure, the forward line failed to break through a resilient defensive block marshaled by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Rahimi Secures Three Points Late
The persistent threat from Gabon was ultimately extinguished in the closing stages of the match. Soufiane Rahimi capitalized on a precise pass from Bilal El Khannouss to score Morocco’s second goal, sealing the 2-0 result and securing three points for the Atlas Lions.
Morocco returns to competitive action on Tuesday with their next qualification fixture scheduled against Lesotho. Fans looking to follow tournament developments and match schedules can access live updates through official regional broadcast channels and team portals.
Keep reading
