Morocco will be looking to maintain their 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they visit the Stade de Franceville to take on Gabon on Friday.
Les Pantheres have also enjoyed a solid qualifying journey and need three points from the final two games in Group B to seal their return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2021.
Match preview
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Gabon took another huge step towards securing a return to the Africa Cup of Nations as they picked up a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Lesotho when the two nations squared off at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Following a goalless first half, Toulouse forward Shavy Warren Babicka broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half to set the visitors on their way before Rody Junior Effaghe doubled the lead with an 84th-minute strike.
Having suffered a 4-1 loss against Morocco in September's group opener, Gabon have now picked up two wins from their subsequent three outings, with a goalless draw against Lesotho in the first of their October double-header sandwiched between the two victories.
Thierry Mouyouma's men missed out on a place in the 2024 AFCON following a third-placed finish in Group I last year, but they currently sit second in Group B with seven points from a possible 12, four points above third-placed Central African Republic.
Gabon will fancy themselves to continue from where they left off in October as they take on an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in eight of their last 10 meetings, claiming four wins and four draws since March 2009.
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On the other hand, Morocco made it two straight wins against Central African Republic in October's qualifying double-header as they thrashed the Wild Beasts 4-0 at the Honneur Stadium.
Having stormed to a 5-0 victory when they met just three days earlier, a brace from Monaco forward Eliesse Ben Seghir and second-half strikes from Youssef En-Nesyri and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli saw the Atlas Lions secure all three points in Oujda.
While Morocco are guaranteed a spot in the 2025 AFCON as host nation, they have won each of their four qualifying matches so far, scoring a staggering 14 goals and conceding just once to sit five points clear in Group B.
Walid Regragui's men, who are Africa's highest-placed national team in the latest FIFA World Rankings (13), head into Friday's clash unbeaten in eight straight games across all competitions, claiming one draw and six wins, including victories over Zambia and Congo in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers back in June.
Team News
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Gabon have named a solid 26-man squad for the qualifying games against Morocco and Central African Republic, with experienced striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returning to the setup having missed October's qualifiers.
Mario Lemina, who has started 10 of Wolverhampton Wanderers' 11 Premier League games this season, should handle business in the middle of the park while Michel Mboula, Alex Moucketou, Aaron Appidangoye and Anthony Oyono should form the back four.
Experienced midfielder Serge Martinson Ngouali has been ruled out of November's qualifiers after picking up a thigh injury while in action for Swedish-based club Brommapojkarna.
Meanwhile, Regragui has named a star-studded 26-man squad for Morocco's November qualifier, including Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui and 27-year-old En-Nesyri.
En-Nesyri ranks fourth in the nation's all-time scoring charts with 21 goals in 76 appearances since his debut in August 2016 and the Fenerbahce striker will be looking to add to his tally this weekend.
Nayef Aguerd, Jamal Harkass and skipper Hakimi started the game against Central African Republic last time and should retain their roles in the Atlas Lions' defence, while former Manchester United midfielder Amrabat should be handed his 61st cap in the centre of the park.
Gabon possible starting lineup:
Mbaba; Mboula, Moucketou, Appidangoye, Oyono; Kanga, Lemina, Ngouali; Sambissa, Bouanga, Aubameyang
Morocco possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Harkass, Mazraoui; Amarabt, Ounahi, Seghir; Ezzalzouli, En-Nesyri, Rahimi
We say: Gabon 1-2 Morocco
While Morocco will be playing for pride, the stakes are high for Gabon, who sit just four points above third-placed Central African Republic heading into the final two qualifying games.
Mouyouma's men are much improved since losing against Morocco in September's reverse fixture, but given the gulf in quality and class between the two nations, we fancy the Atlas Lions to claim all three points and maintain their perfect record in the qualifiers.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
