MOROCCO CRUSH NIGER 5-0 TO BECOME FIRST AFRICAN TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR 2026 WORLD CUP
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Morocco sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday after thrashing 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat, becoming the first African nation to qualify for the global tournament.
Ismael Saibari netted twice in the first half after Abdul-Latif Goumey’s early red card left Niger weakened, before Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi added second-half goals to complete the rout.
The victory marked Morocco’s sixth straight win, taking them to 18 points eight clear of second-placed Tanzania and securing qualification with two matches to spare. It will be their seventh appearance at the World Cup.
The Atlas Lions stunned the world in Qatar 2022, reaching the semi-finals after eliminating Spain and Portugal, before falling 2-0 to eventual runners-up France. Only Ounahi remains from that historic squad, with coach Walid Regragui introducing fresh faces such as PSV Eindhoven’s Saibari.
Elsewhere in Africa’s qualifiers:
Egypt beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Cairo, with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush converting first-half penalties. Victory over Burkina Faso on Tuesday would book their spot in 2026.
DR Congo stayed top of Group B with a 4-1 win over South Sudan in Juba, as Cedric Bakambu struck twice and Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa scored his first competitive goal since a £50m move from Brentford.
Senegal remain one point behind DR Congo after Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr secured a 2-0 win over Sudan. Both sides clash in a decisive showdown in Kinshasa on Tuesday.
South Africa maintained a five-point lead in Group C with a 3-0 victory against Lesotho in Bloemfontein, courtesy of Mohau Nkota, Lyle Foster, and Oswin Appollis. However, injuries to defenders Nyiko Mobbie and Thabo Moloisane cast a shadow over their upcoming clash with Nigeria.
Benin stayed in contention with a narrow 1-0 win over Zimbabwe, thanks to Steve Mounie’s strike.
Gambia stunned Kenya 3-1 in Nairobi, with Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh on target.
Guinea cruised past Somalia 3-0, but despite Serhou Guirassy scoring his first qualifier goal, they remain eight points behind Group G leaders Algeria and unlikely to qualify.
The qualification race continues on Tuesday, with heavyweight clashes expected to shape Africa’s representation at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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