Morocco has made a strong start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, securing a 2-0 victory over Lesotho at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The win marks Morocco's second consecutive clean sheet in the qualifying campaign, following their 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat on Friday. Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi scored the goals for Morocco in the match. The team was captained by Yassine Bounou in the absence of suspended Achraf Hakimi.
The match saw several changes to the Moroccan team that defeated Gabon, with Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Zakaria El Ouahdi, and Oussama Targhalline handed starting roles. Ismael Saibari also returned to the starting lineup after serving his one-match suspension against Gabon. Morocco had to remain patient against Lesotho before finally finding the breakthrough, with Diaz striking in the 45th minute to send the Atlas Lions into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
Lesotho remained within one goal for much of the second half, leaving Morocco searching for another goal to put the result beyond doubt. The second goal finally arrived in the 82nd minute, when Ounahi found the net to double Morocco's advantage and secure all three points. The Atlas Lions then saw out the remaining minutes without conceding, recording their second consecutive clean sheet of the qualifying campaign.
The victory gives Morocco six points from their opening two Group A matches, with the team now having scored four goals without reply across their first two qualifiers. Morocco began the campaign with a 2-0 victory against Gabon, when Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi found the net at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The top two teams in Group A will qualify for the 2027 AFCON, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign is ongoing, with other matches scheduled to take place later in the day. Niger and Gabon are set to meet, with the outcome potentially affecting Morocco's position in Group A. Morocco's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, had expressed his team's goal of winning every match, and the team's strong start to the campaign will provide a boost to their confidence.
The match was reported to have been attended by a significant number of fans, with the Free State Toyota Stadium providing a suitable venue for the encounter. Morocco's fans have been enthusiastic about the team's prospects in the qualifying campaign, and the team's performance has provided a source of pride for the country's football supporters.
Morocco's next match in the qualifying campaign is expected to be a significant test of their credentials, with the team seeking to maintain their perfect start to the campaign. The team's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, will be looking to build on the team's strong start and guide them to qualification for the 2027 AFCON.
Key points
- Morocco has secured a 2-0 win over Lesotho in their 2027 AFCON qualifier.
- The team has scored four goals without reply across their first two qualifiers.
- Morocco's next match in the qualifying campaign will be a significant test of their credentials.
