Ecuador's elite tests the "Atlas Lions"

The Moroccan national football team will resume its activity tomorrow, Friday, against its Ecuadorian counterpart, in a friendly match on the grounds of the “Metropolitano” stadium in Madrid.

This match constitutes a turning point for the “Atlas Lions”, as it is their first match since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, and their first official appearance under the leadership of the new national vote, Mohamed Wehbe.

After “Cannes 2025”, the Moroccan national team is entering a new phase of its path, as the Royal Moroccan Football Federation is betting on Mohamed Wehbe to launch a new chapter and prepare the team for the upcoming international competitions, most notably the 2026 World Cup finals, where it begins its journey with the “Atlas Lions” against Ecuador, which is the starting point for a project that aims to reshape the features of the national team.

By facing the Ecuadorian national team, the new technical staff seeks primarily to determine the group’s readiness and evaluate the physical and technical condition of the national elements. This match also provides an opportunity to try out some tactical options, test many combinations, and consolidate the basic principles of the playing style that Mohamed Wehbe aspires to adopt.

The Madrid match also constitutes an opportunity for a number of players to confirm their position within the national team, while others aspire to exploit this new dynamic to impose themselves within the national voter’s choices. In this context, the intensity of competition within the group is expected to increase, with a combination of elements that have accumulated respectable experience and young ones with great talent.

This confrontation falls within a preparatory program that includes two close friendly matches, where the “Atlas Lions” will meet the Paraguayan national team four days later at the “Poulard d’Olis” stadium in the French city of Lens. This will enable the technical staff to continue the evaluation process and expand the circle of human choices.

Facing Ecuador is also a real test for the Moroccan national team, which has emerged in recent years as one of the competitive teams on the international scene, thanks to the emergence of a generation of talented players who are active in major European leagues. His physical strength and tactical discipline constitute an important challenge for the “Atlas Lions”.

The “Metropolitano” stadium, the home of Atletico Madrid, provides a distinctive framework to host this match, which is expected to witness a significant Moroccan audience presence, given the presence of a large number of members of the Moroccan community in Spain, known for its enthusiasm and continuous support for the national team.