Morocco vs Togo:Five facts to know

Morocco’s national football team players run past during a training session on January 18, 2017 in Bitam during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in Gabon. / AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO

— The countries will be meeting at the Cup of Nations for the first time — one of only six such fixtures among the 24 during the first round in Gabon.

— Despite being widely regarded for decades as an African football power, Morocco have won the Cup of Nations only once, and that success came 41 years ago in Ethiopia.

— The 1976 Cup of Nations was the only one composed entirely of mini-leagues and Morocco won the decisive group by one point thanks to a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Guinea.

— Togo have progressed beyond the first round only once and lost 1-0 after extra time to Burkina Faso in a 2013 quarter-final in South Africa.

— Both countries are coached by Cup of Nations-winning Frenchmen. Twice successful Herve Renard handles Morocco and one-time winner Claude le Roy guides Togo.