Morocco and Mali meet in an international friendly at the Grand Stade de Tanger on Sunday, with both sides carrying unbeaten starts to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns.
The teams drew 1-1 in Group A at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December. Brahim Diaz put Morocco ahead before Lassine Sinayoko converted a 64th-minute penalty for Mali at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.
Morocco began their latest qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat on 25 September, with Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi scoring. Four days later, they beat Lesotho 2-0 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s side had more than 70% possession in a one-sided match at Toyota Stadium. Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz and 26-year-old midfielder Azzedine Ounahi completed the scoring.
That form follows Morocco’s impressive World Cup run earlier this year. The two-time African champions defeated the Netherlands and Canada before losing 2-0 to France in the quarter-finals on 9 July.
The defeat by France is Morocco’s only loss in their past 37 matches in all competitions. Since a 1-0 defeat by Kenya at the African Nations Championship in August 2025, the Atlas Lions have recorded 31 wins and five draws.
Mali have also won both of their opening qualifiers and sit at the top of Group K alongside Rwanda on points. They beat Cape Verde 3-1 on 25 September, with a brace from Fenerbahce forward Dorgeles Nene and an early goal from Ange Tia in the fifth minute. Tia scored again four days later to secure a 1-0 victory over Liberia.
Those results ended a run of three games without a win for Anthony da Silva’s team, which included two defeats and a 1-0 loss to Senegal in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in January. Mali are bidding to reach the tournament finals for an 11th time.
Morocco are sixth in the latest FIFA rankings and are Africa’s highest-ranked nation. Mali have won six and drawn six of their 21 previous meetings with Morocco, but have not beaten them in four matches. Their last victory was a 1-0 friendly win in May 2006.
Morocco’s recent form is W-D-W-W-W-D in international friendlies and W-W-W-L-W-W in all competitions. Mali’s corresponding records are L-D-L-D-D-L and W-L-D-L-W-W.
With qualification going smoothly, Ouahbi could rest several senior players. Anass Salah-Eddine, Soufiane El-Faouzi and Anderlecht forward Tawfik Bentayeb are candidates to start. Achraf Hakimi, who missed the game against Gabon before appearing against Lesotho, is expected to be on the bench, as is Mazraoui after he played both qualifiers.
Ange Tia, the 19-year-old Stade de Reims II midfielder, has scored twice in two qualifying matches and should retain his place. Paris FC forward Lassine Sinayoko, who has scored 10 Mali goals since his debut in September 2021, is expected to lead the attack, with Aliou Dieng and Brentford summer signing Mamadou Sangare likely to play in midfield.
Mali are expected to retain a back four of Daouda Guindo, Nathan Gassama, Ousmane Camara and captain Hamari Traore, with Djigui Diarra in goal.
Probable line-ups
Morocco: Bono; Salah-Eddine, Boudlal, Diop, E. Ounahi; El Aynaoui, Targhalline, A. Ounahi; Khannouss, Rahimi, Bentayeb.
Mali: Diarra; Guindo, Gassama, O. Camara, Traore; Dieng, Sangare, Doumbia; Nene, Tia, Sinayoko.
Morocco are favoured to win at 1.40, while prices of 2.10 are listed for more than 2.5 goals and 2.30 for both teams to score. The predicted score is a 2-1 Morocco victory, priced at 8.00 on Betclic.
