Morocco begin their warm up for the Nations Cup qualifying campaign on Wednesday with a friendly against Luxembourg.

The match, being played at the Gosi Batthel Stadium in Luxembourg City, is the first for Morroco under new national coach and former international goalkeeper Zaki Badou.

Badou took charge of the Atlas Lions in June after the Moroccan FA parted company with Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho.

The match will act as preparation for Morroco's 2004 Nations Cup qualifying campaign which kicks off against Gabon in Libreville on 8 September.

Luxumbourg journalist Laurent Schufsler, who will be attending the match, said Luxembourg saw the North Africans as very strong opposition.

"Morroco have chances of carrying the day, because they are better rated in the Fifa rankings than Luxemburg," he told the BBC Sport Online.

According to latest Fifa ranking's, Morroco are ranked 40 while Luxembourg are 120.

Badou has his work cut out trying to improve the fortunes of the of the Atlas Lions.

They were highly criticised after crashing out of the Nations Cup in Mali this year in the first round.