
09/09/2025
Morocco Seal Historic Spot as First African Side for 2026 World Cup
Morocco hammered Niger 5-0 in Rabat to secure top place in Group E and become the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
A brace from Ismael Saibari set the tone after Niger’s Abdul-Latif Goumey saw red, while Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi rounded off the win.
The Atlas Lions now sit uncatchable on 18 points, booking their seventh World Cup appearance with two games to spare. Morocco were semi-finalists in Qatar 2022, and coach Walid Regragui has since blended veterans like Ounahi with fresh talent including PSV’s Saibari.