Atlas Lions target hat-trick of AFCONQ wins

Morocco will target a hat-trick of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying wins when they welcome Group B rivals Central African Republic to the Honour Stadium in Oujda on the evening of Saturday 12 October.

Kick-off is at 9pm CAT.

Morocco are assured of their place at the next Afcon as hosts of the tournament, but a resounding performance in the qualifiers will prepare them well to challenge for the title, and last month the North African team claimed wins over Gabon (4-1 at home) and Lesotho (1-0 away) to sit at the top of the log on six points.

CAR, meanwhile, are second on the log on three points after a 3-1 ‘home’ win over Lesotho in El Jadida and 2-0 loss away to Gabon in Franceville.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who has come under fire this year for some of his team selections and the Lions’ inability to challenge for the Afcon in Ivory Coast, has retained his determination to blood new players, selecting no less than five uncapped players. Hakim Ziyech and Brahim Diaz are notable omissions – both due to injury.

“There are young players [...] who have not been given the chance to play in such competitions,” noted the coach. “We want to try out some players, and [...] about a year from now we will see the final squad [for the next Afcon, which starts in December 2025].”

In head-to-head terms, Morocco and CAR have met in five matches, dating back as far as 2010. The Atlas Lions boast an unbeaten record, with three wins and two draws.

The teams last met in November 2020 in back-to-back Afcon qualifiers, with the North Africans winning 4-1 at home in Casablanca and 2-0 away in Douala.