Adrar Stadium hosts Morocco 's Group E World Cup qualifying match with Zambia on Friday. Walid Regragui 's men only played one fixture in November 2023 following Eritrea's withdrawal and they seek to make it two wins from two when they welcome the Copper Bullets to Agadir in a rematch of the pair's group-stage encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations. © Reuters Morocco return to competitive action months after their shock exit to Africa Cup of Nations semi-finalists South Africa, keen to create separation in the race to make the World Cup.
The Atlas Lions were tipped to win the continental showpiece in Cote d'Ivoire, only to exit in the first knockout round but Regragui and his team hope to move on from that January loss. Africa's highest-ranked side already played out a pair of non-competitive fixtures in March, defeating Angola (1-0) and playing out a goalless game with Amir Abdou 's Mauritania, with little riding on both fixtures. Friday's competitive match could see Morocco move three points clear of their opponents, and possibly three clear of Niger, who are away against Congo heading into June 11's trip to Kinshasa.
Having made African and Arab history at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Regragui's men aim to avoid the ignominy of missing out in 2026, adding to the pressure before rounds three and four of qualifiers. For their part, Zambia are unfancied to secure a positive result in Morocco or make it to the 2026 finals, having never participated at any World Cup. Avram Gra.
