Morocco crushed 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to top Group E and become the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ismael Saibari struck twice in the first half after Niger’s Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off, and second-half goals from Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi sealed an emphatic win.
The result marked Morocco’s sixth straight victory in the group stage, lifting them to 18 points — eight clear of second-placed Tanzania — and securing their spot at the global tournament with two matches to spare. It will be the Atlas Lions’ seventh World Cup appearance.
Morocco famously reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal en route before falling 2-0 to France.
Of the five goal scorers against Niger, only Ounahi featured in that 2022 squad. Head coach Walid Regragui has since integrated new talent, including PSV Eindhoven midfielder Saibari.
Egypt, DR Congo, South Africa also eye qualification
In Group A, Egypt kept their qualification hopes on track with a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in Cairo. Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush both converted penalties late in the first half.
Egypt can book their place at the 2026 tournament — to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — with a win away to second-placed Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Yoane Wissa, who recently joined Newcastle United from Brentford in a £50 million ($67 million) transfer, scored as the Democratic Republic of Congo routed South Sudan 4-1 in Juba to stay top of Group B.
DR Congo are seeking a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country competed as Zaire.
Cedric Bakambu scored twice to give the visitors a commanding half-time lead, before Wissa added a fourth. Keer Majak netted a late consolation for the hosts.
Senegal remain one point behind DR Congo ahead of their top-of-the-table clash in Kinshasa on Tuesday, having beaten Sudan 2-0 through goals from Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr.
South Africa cruise past Lesotho despite injury setbacks
In Group C, South Africa maintained a five-point cushion with a 3-0 win over Lesotho in Bloemfontein. The fixture was moved to the South African city due to Lesotho lacking a FIFA-approved stadium.
Mohau Nkota, who recently joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq from Orlando Pirates, opened the scoring in the 15th minute with his first international goal. Lyle Foster (Burnley) and Oswin Appollis added two more in the second half.
However, the win came at a cost, as defenders Nyiko Mobbie and Thabo Moloisane suffered injuries ahead of Tuesday’s pivotal clash with Nigeria, also in Bloemfontein.
South Africa lead the group with 16 points, ahead of Benin (11), who edged Zimbabwe 1-0 thanks to a Steve Mounié goal. Nigeria, sitting third with seven points, host Rwanda on Saturday.
In Group F, Gambia stunned Kenya 3-1 in Nairobi with a clinical first-half display. Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh was among the scorers.
The result, however, has little impact on the top of the table, where African champions Ivory Coast are set to face Gabon on Tuesday in a likely group decider.
In Group G, Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy netted his first World Cup qualifying goal for Guinea in a 3-0 win over Somalia. Guirassy scored 38 goals in all competitions last season but is unlikely to feature at the World Cup, as Guinea trail group leaders Algeria by eight points.
AFP
