Lesotho vs Morocco: Aguerd absent for Bloemfontein clash
Morocco head into lesotho vs morocco in Bloemfontein without Nayef Aguerd, while coach Mohamed Wahbi insists the setting will not be an excuse. The AFCON…
BLOEMFONTEIN — lesotho vs morocco brings Africa Cup of Nations qualifying back to the Free State Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, with Morocco arriving without Nayef Aguerd and Lesotho forced to stage the match away from home. The game matters because Morocco are chasing a second straight Group A win after opening with a 2-0 victory over Gabon, while Lesotho are trying to recover from a 1-2 loss to Niger.
Morocco sit on three points in the group, with Lesotho still on zero. That gap is small this early, but it already shapes the tone of the contest. Morocco know another win would strengthen their grip on the section, while Lesotho need a response after a difficult start.
Mohamed Wahbi, Morocco’s head coach, said his players must adapt quickly to the setting in Bloemfontein and keep their focus on the result. “We won the first match, and now we will play the second, and of course the circumstances are different, so we have to adapt and maintain our concentration in what we do well, and try to achieve victory, while respecting the Lesotho national team, which has developed considerably in recent years,” he said.
Wahbi also brushed aside any attempt to use the weather or the pitch as cover for a poor performance. “It is not about looking for excuses. The temperature is good, but whether it concerns the heat or the quality of the pitch surface, we cannot have excuses. We must think only of the solutions that help us to win,” he said.
lesotho vs morocco and the Aguerd absence
The main selection news is straightforward. Aguerd is out, with Morocco’s technical staff choosing not to risk him so he can continue his return-to-competition programme. Wahbi said, “Everyone is available except Aguerd, whom we preferred to continue the return protocol.”
That leaves Morocco with a squad that still carries familiar quality. Yassine Bounou is in goal, while Achraf Mazraoui, Abdelkabir Aït Boudlal, Ismael Diop, and Zakaria El Ouahdi are listed in the back line. In midfield and attack, Morocco have options including Bilal El Khannouss, Ounahi, Díaz, El Aynaoui, Targhalline, and Saibari, with ESPN’s match page showing Morocco dominating possession in the 83% range in the early figures for the fixture.
Lesotho, for their part, are still waiting for a first point. Their home issue has pushed this tie to South Africa, which changes the atmosphere and removes the usual edge of a true home crowd. That matters because the match is being played at a venue neither side can claim as a natural home base.
Wahbi said the staff want the newer faces in the squad to keep developing, adding: “There are those who have played, those who have not yet played, and those who will play. We want these players to develop, and we also want to see them on the pitch.”
For Morocco, the test is simple and immediate: avoid a slip in a match they are expected to control. For Lesotho, it is about making the most of an unusual home fixture and trying to turn a difficult start into something that still gives them a foothold in Group A.
BBC’s live match page was last updated on 29th September 2026 at 14:12, with Morocco listed on three points and Lesotho on zero before the final whistle.
Source: moroccoworldnews.com
