Morocco have cancelled their planned international friendly against Ghana, which was scheduled for October 4 at the Grand Stade de Tanger, delivering another blow to a Black Stars side already reeling from a disastrous start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) called off the fixture with no official reason given, though the cancellation comes amid reports of an internal financial dispute within the Ghana camp that left the match in serious doubt in the days leading up to it.
A Fixture That Unravelled Quickly
The match had been confirmed by both federations earlier in September as part of Ghana’s programme for the September–October international window. Morocco had opened ticket sales for the encounter on September 27 and subsequently opened media accreditation for journalists covering the match—preparations that suggested the fixture was proceeding as planned.
The friendly was expected to give Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz another opportunity to assess his squad against one of Africa’s leading national teams, and it carried historical weight: the two nations had been set to renew a rivalry stretching back decades, with Morocco winning the last encounter 1-0 at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Financial Crisis Behind the Scenes
Moroccan media outlet Hespress reported that the Ghana Football Association informed its Moroccan counterpart that it could not proceed with the match due to an internal dispute over players’ financial dues. The dispute reportedly involved outstanding payments owed to Ghana’s national team players, with several squad members refusing to travel to Morocco, casting serious doubt over the Black Stars’ participation.
The financial tensions stem from bonuses related to Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Sports Minister Kofi Adams had earlier explained that the delay in paying the Black Stars’ outstanding bonuses was linked to ongoing discussions over tax obligations, and that while players had received appearance fees of $100,000 each, qualification bonuses remained unsettled.
Back-to-Back Defeats Leave Ghana Bottom of Group C
The cancellation compounds what has been a torrid period for Ghanaian football. The Black Stars opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, before suffering a stunning 4-2 collapse against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
Ghana had raced into a 2-0 lead through Ernest Nuamah’s 27th-minute penalty and Felix Afena-Gyan’s strike six minutes later, but The Gambia fought back with goals from Muhammed Badamosi and captain Omar Colley before half-time. Ebrima Colley then scored twice in the second half—in the 68th and 91st minutes—to complete a memorable comeback and seal a 4-2 victory.
The result leaves Ghana bottom of Group C with zero points from two matches, while Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia are level on six points. It also extends Ghana’s winless run in AFCON qualifying to eight matches, a sequence that contributed to their failure to qualify for the 2025 tournament—their first absence from the continental showpiece since 2004.
The defeat marked The Gambia’s first win over Ghana in 33 years and piled further pressure on Queiroz, who was reappointed in September after leading the Black Stars to the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated 1-0 by Colombia.
Queiroz has taken full responsibility for the defeat and apologised to fans, pointing to an unprecedented injury crisis that has left Ghana without 24 players from the national A team. “The same answer that I give you now. We are facing some challenges, some problems. But the Black Stars was never a problem,” Queiroz said after the match.
Second Friendly Cancellation in Weeks
The Morocco match was itself a replacement for a proposed friendly against Tanzania, which fell through after the Ghana Football Association and the Tanzania Football Federation reportedly failed to reach a final agreement. Ghana now find themselves without any friendly fixture during the October international window.
The cancellation also means Morocco must scramble to find alternative opposition, with reports indicating the FRMF is intensifying contacts to secure a replacement team for the October 4 date.
What Next for the Black Stars?
Ghana will return to competitive action in November when they face Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium, with matchdays three and four scheduled between November 9 and 17, 2026. The Black Stars will be desperate to secure their first points of the campaign and revive their hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
For Queiroz, the coming weeks will be critical. The 73-year-old Portuguese coach, who has previously managed Iran, Portugal, Egypt, South Africa, Colombia and Qatar, must navigate a deepening crisis that extends beyond tactics—encompassing squad unrest, financial disputes and a fanbase growing increasingly restless.
Ghana’s football authorities will also face difficult questions about the management of player bonuses and the broader governance of the national team, as the Black Stars seek to avoid missing a second consecutive AFCON and restore confidence in a team that was once a dominant force in African football.
The Black Stars’ next 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Somalia are scheduled for November 2026 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
