The Atlas Lions of Morocco have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making the North African nation the first representative of Africa to have secured its slot for the mundial.
Morocco’s historic qualification came after thrashing Niger 5 – 0 on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Ismael Saibari scored brace in the first half after Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off, setting the tone for Morocco’s relentless dominance.
There were second-half goals from Ayoub el Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi.
The win marked Morocco’s sixth consecutive triumph, lifting them to 18 points and confirming a seventh World Cup appearance with two matches remaining.
Morocco stunned the world at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, topping a group with Croatia and Belgium and defeating Spain and Portugal. Their historic run ended in the semi-finals with a 2-0 loss to France, followed by a fourth-place finish after losing to Croatia in the play-off.
Only Ounahi featured in both the Niger match and Morocco’s 2022 World Cup squad, with coach Walid Regragui introducing fresh talents including Saibari from PSV Eindhoven. In Cairo, Egypt defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in Group A, with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush converting late first-half penalties to secure victory.
Egypt can join Morocco at the 2026 World Cup if they defeat second-placed Burkina Faso away on Tuesday, keeping Africa’s hopes alive. The continent’s footballing giants now set their sights on the United States, Canada and Mexico, where the next global tournament promises drama and ambition.
Source:Africa Publicity