African international friendly football matches

In late September 2026, several African nations prepared for international friendly football matches. Tunisia and Mali were scheduled to meet on October 2, following Tunisia’s draw against Botswana and Mali’s victory over Liberia. Additionally, Mauritius and Djibouti were set to compete in the Tri-Nations Cup to gain competitive experience.

By early October, Mali participated in a friendly against Morocco, who had replaced Ghana as the scheduled opponent. The match featured highly ranked Moroccan players against a Malian squad coached by Anthony Da Silva, and included the debut of a 17-year-old player for the Moroccan national team.

On October 4, Morocco and Mali played to a 1-1 draw at the Grand Stadium in Tangier. Morocco took the lead in the 35th minute via an Abde Ezzalzouli penalty following a foul by Cheick Keita. Although Morocco maintained dominance with 57% ball control and a higher number of dangerous attacks, Mali utilized a compact defensive block and effective counter-attacks to remain competitive. Mali equalized in the 77th minute through substitute Gaoussou Diarra, who connected with a cross from Amadou Dante at the far post.

Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi used the match to test tactical options, introducing players such as Brahim Díaz, Soufiane Rahimi, and Ismael Saibari. Ouahbi noted the match was a “valuable test against a physically strong opponent,” while identifying a need for better defensive spacing in the first half and improved clinical finishing in the attacking third. This draw concluded Morocco’s international break, which also included recent victories against Gabon and Lesotho in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.