Morocco cemented their place in football history once again by becoming the first African nation to book their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Atlas Lions swept aside Niger 5-0 in Rabat, securing top spot in Group E with two matches to spare. The victory carried extra weight, as it marked the inaugural international fixture at the newly redeveloped Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, set to host the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2025 and later play a role in the 2030 World Cup.
Niger’s hopes unraveled early when Abdoul-Latif Goumey was dismissed in the 26th minute. Morocco wasted no time capitalizing, with Ismael Saibari netting twice before halftime thanks to slick service from Youssef Belammari and Achraf Hakimi. Ayoub El Kaabi added a third soon after the restart, before substitute Hamza Igamane struck his maiden international goal from a rehearsed corner routine. Azzedine Ounahi’s curling finish capped a night of dominance.
The win reinforced Morocco’s growing stature as the continent’s standard-bearer, following their groundbreaking semi-final run at Qatar 2022. With eight other group winners still to be decided, the Atlas Lions have now set the pace for Africa’s qualification campaign. The triumph also provided a symbolic statement of intent ahead of the kingdom’s role as co-host of the expanded 2030 World Cup.
Elsewhere, Egypt closed in on qualification with a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in Cairo, powered by penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. The Pharaohs sit five points clear in Group A and can confirm their return to the global stage with a win away to Burkina Faso next week. Meanwhile, wins for DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Ivory Coast kept their respective qualification hopes alive, setting up pivotal showdowns in the next round.
The drama continues across Africa’s qualifiers, with South Africa leading Group C and Nigeria facing a must-win clash against Rwanda to stay in contention. But on a night when Morocco dazzled at home, the message was clear: Africa’s first ticket to 2026 belongs to the Atlas Lions, who continue to roar louder than ever on the world stage.
