A Grand Stade de Tanger Fully Renovated and Ready to Roar
This fixture will also mark the long-awaited reopening of the Grand Stade de Tanger, freshly renovated and now capable of welcoming 65,000 spectators. For this first event since the upgrade, the stadium is expected to be sold out, reflecting the scale of the national excitement as Morocco prepares for a historic AFCON on home soil.
After a final training session in Casablanca on Tuesday, the Atlas Lions traveled to Tangier on Thursday morning aboard the Al Boraq high-speed train to continue their preparation in optimal conditions during this international break.
A Reshaped Squad and Tactical Adjustments to Explore
Head coach Walid Regragui will have to make do without one of his key players: Achraf Hakimi. The PSG fullback sustained an injury during the Champions League match against Bayern Munich and will be sidelined for several weeks. His absence is significant, but it also gives the technical staff an opportunity to test new options on the defensive wings.
Noussair Mazraoui is expected to start on the right side, while the left flank could feature the debut of Anass Salah-Eddine, although Youssef Belammari remains a serious candidate.
In central defense, the return of captain Romain Saïss, who has been absent for over a year, should offset the continued unavailability of Nayef Aguerd, still suffering from a groin injury. On the bench, young defender Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal could make his first appearance with the national team during the match.
Two Matches to Fine-Tune the Final Details
This first test against Mozambique will be followed by a second friendly against Uganda on November 18, once again in Tangier. These two games will help the coach assess the physical condition of the squad, integrate new players and move toward the final selection for AFCON 2025.
More Than Just a Friendly
Between the pressure of hosting the competition, the high expectations of Moroccan supporters and the need to begin this phase with a convincing performance, the Atlas Lions know all eyes will be on them. This match against Mozambique will serve as a measuring point to evaluate chemistry on the field, restart key players and give opportunities to those capable of challenging the established hierarchy.
The countdown has begun. On Friday, the Atlas Lions will aim to show that their momentum is underway.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv