Morocco’s Tactical Pivot: Africa-First Prep for CAN, Not Argentina

Background and the decision to prioritize Africa ahead of CAN

Morocco’s football federation announced two friendly matches this month against Uganda and Mozambique, triggering varied reactions in the sports world. The choice came directly from coach Walid Regragui, who preferred testing African teams over a high-profile clash with Argentina, the world champions.

The timing matters: a few weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations, fans and pundits wondered why these two teams and why now, in a period when expectations were high for a marquee international duel.

Behind the decision, exclusive details reported by KOOORA reveal why negotiations with the Argentine federation collapsed under heavy financial demands. Regragui and federation president Fouzi Lekjaa opted for two African friendlies at the Tangier Grand Stadium, the nation’s flagship venue, as a display of readiness and infrastructure.

Initially, there were talks of a lavish ceremonial clash with Argentina to inaugurate Tangier’s 75,000-seat stadium in front of FIFA president and other global personalities. However, Argentina’s financial expectations proved prohibitive.

Negotiations reportedly saw demands escalate: from an initial 10 million euros to 8 million, then 6 million, a package Morocco rejected outright. Morocco offered about 1 million euros and proposed Lionel Messi’s participation, but the gaps proved irreconcilable.

The sources added that Morocco viewed those demands as illogical given its rising status: the national team has led Africa for three years, houses world-class players, and has already beaten Argentina with its Olympic side and outperformed it in the youth World Cup final. Moroccan football is on a steep ascent and cannot be asked to pay exorbitant sums merely to appease a rival.

Regragui’s stance eventually prevailed. After the failed talks, Lekjaa entrusted the matter to the coach, who supported Morocco’s decision not to bow to Argentina’s terms. He argued that facing African teams would better prepare the squad for CAN by exposing them to continental playing styles and tactical nuances they will encounter in the tournament.

Why Uganda and Mozambique? After lengthy consultations, the federation settled on Uganda and Mozambique following the unraveling of negotiations with Senegal and Ivory Coast. Some teams were hesitant about facing a top-tier Moroccan side, while others were tied up with a packed schedule.

A source noted that Cameroon and Nigeria were out of the running because they were engaged in World Cup qualifying playoffs against Gabon and the Republic of the Congo during the same window. Regragui welcomed the Uganda match, a side Morocco has never defeated historically, and Mozambique, one of the surprises of the last CAN edition. The aim is to study this type of opponent as part of preparing for the tournament after recent setbacks against Congo in World Cup qualifiers and Bahrain in friendlies.

For a new era of Moroccan football, the federation chose Tangier Grand Stadium to host these two friendlies, aligning with the stadium’s completion and readiness for major matches. The official inauguration will be a high-profile event attended by FIFA leadership and other sports figures, underscoring the venue as a symbol of Morocco’s capacity to host major continental competitions.

Sources within KOOORA say Morocco will hand CAF a package of nine ready stadiums within two weeks. The stadiums in Rabat’s Moulay Hassan and the Postal Stadium, as well as Tangier, are earmarked to host Africa Cup of Nations-related fixtures this month, under CAF supervision, marking a logistical milestone in the country’s CAN prep.

This broader logistical effort signals a new era for Moroccan football, combining rapid infrastructure development with a deliberate, continent-focused approach to tournament preparation.

Punchline 1: If football were a weapon, Morocco just rolled out a full arsenal of stadiums—talk about a home-field advantage that comes with a building permit.

Punchline 2: They say life is a game of inches; Morocco just moved the goalposts, built a stadium on top of them, and still found a way to schedule a friendly in between.