Morocco vs Gabon Preview & Prediction | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group B
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Morocco have already qualified for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations as they are the host country but they are taking part in the qualifying campaign, too, and they begin this group stage by taking on Gabon this week.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 6th September, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – beIN Sports streaming platforms
MOROCCO PREVIEW: THE IMPRESSIVE WALID REGRAGUI
The pinnacle of Moroccan football came a couple of years ago when they became the first ever African team to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup as they defeated the likes of Belgium, Portugal and Spain on the way to finishing fourth in Qatar.
Walid Regragui, who enjoyed a phenomenal spell with Wydad Casablanca before taking charge of the national team, has perhaps underperformed since then with a frustrating CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final finish earlier this year.
GABON PREVIEW: BACKS AGAINST THE WALL
Gabon will fancy their chances of finishing in the top two of Group B and progress through into the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The Gabonese begin their qualifying campaign with their most difficult fixture.
Under the management of Thierry Mouyouma, Gabon are currently ranked 83rd in the world according to FIFA. Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t barely played for the national team since September 2023 and he, once again, hasn’t been picked or made himself available for selection.
MOROCCO TEAM NEWS: ATTACKING RICHES
Walid Regragui’s task for this international cycle is finding the right formula for his attacking riches such as Amine Adli, Abde Ez, Ilias Akhomach, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Brahim Diaz, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Bilal Ek Khannouss and Ayoub El Kaabi.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Bono; Hakimi, Ageurd, Abqar, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Richardson; Ziyech, Brahim Diaz, Adli; En-Nesyri
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
GABON TEAM NEWS: ATTACKING ISSUES
Former Clermont winger Jim Allevinah remains a doubt for this one which could well mean the absence of Aubameyang is even more strongly felt for the Gabonese.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Mbaba; Moucketou-Moussounda, Ecuele Manga, Appindangoye; Sambissa, Kanga, Biteghe, Lemina, Ekomie; Bouanga, Allevinah
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Allevinah (Injured)
MOROCCO VS GABON PREDICTION
Morocco are overwhelming favourites for this one with a genuinely remarkably impressive and deep squad for African football. They will not have the competitive edge for this fixture given they have already qualified as hosts but there is a likelihood this game is an exercise in patience with Gabon’s back three sitting deep but the Moroccans should still be able to overcome them with their home advantage.
MOROCCO VS GABON TIP: MOROCCO TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
