Morocco beat Niger 5-0 on Friday to score 18 points, emerging as the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spanish born, right winger for UEFA team, PSV Eindhoven, Ismael Saibari gave Morocco an impressive first-half lead with two goals in the 29th and 38th minute.
Ayoub El Kaabi scored a third goal 6 minutes after the first half in the 51st minute, while Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi sealed Morocco’s victory over Niger in the 69th and 84th minutes.
Morocco finished the 2022 World cup in Qatar as semi-finalists eliminating Spain and Portugal in the knockout stage.
Friday’s victory makes Morocco leader of Group E with 18 points, followed by Tanzania with 10 points. Zambia and Niger are sharing 6 points each while Congo trail with 1 point. Eritrea withdrew from the qualifiers over fears players would try to seek political asylum during trips abroad.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be hosted across in 16 cities in USA, Canada and Mexico.
