Demolition squad! That’s the best description of the Moroccan national team, as the Atlas Lions destroyed Lesotho 7-0 for a maximum number of points after six rounds of 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Even though the Moroccans, as the hosts, were automatically qualified, they still did the work in the qualifiers professionally.The Crocodiles did not stand a chance tonight as it was 5-0 already at the break. Five goals, but only two scorers – Brahim Diaz with a hat-trick and Soufiane Rahimi with a brace. After the break, the match was much more relaxed as the final outcome was long resolved. Still, Morocco managed to mark the second half with two goals, netting over Youssef En-Nesyri and Ismael Saibari – 7-0.First-half hat trick against Lesotho for Brahim Diaz 🎩🇲🇦He’s scored seven goals in his last four games for Morocco pic.twitter.com/6HXx6bY7aI— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 18, 2024 Morocco, with five triumphs in as many matches and a monstrous goal difference of 19-2, was set to await Lesotho in the last round of 2025 AFCON qualifiers. The Atlas Lions had long secured the top spot, while the visitors had no chance to qualify despite being three points behind the second-placed Gabon. The reason was simple – the Panthers were better in H2H, thanks to their 2-0 away victory and a 0-0 draw at home.Cristiano gets African company?It took only five minutes for the home team to break the deadlock and from their first dangerous attack! Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli made a good run over the left flank, finding Azzedine Ounahi in the box, who set the ideal shooting opportunity for Brahim Diaz and Real Madrid player took no prisoners, making it 1-0!Brahim Diaz with a brace!⚽️GOAL | Morocco 2-0 Lesotho | Brahim Diazpic.twitter.com/c3pJAmhCox— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) November 18, 2024 Ten minutes later, the winger completed a brace after the visitors gambled away the ball near their box, using Ezzalzouli’s timely pass – 2-0! After noting an assist, Ounahi was near to finding the net himself in the 37th minute, hitting the post. However, the Crocodiles cleared the ball, giving Morocco a corner, after which Soufiane Rahimi made it 3-0 with a skilful header!BRAHIM DIAZ HATTRICK FOR MOROCCO!! WOWZERS pic.twitter.com/pOYQIPA8xs— Dr Yash (@YashRMFC) November 18, 2024 In the 42nd minute, it was already 4-0! This time, Rahimi assisted, and Diaz completed a first-half hat-trick. It was the introduction to the fifth Morocco’s goal, as Rahimi netted his second goal of the game from the spot in added time, for a total demolition of Lesotho, already in the first 45 minutes.Unlike the first half, after the break the Moroccans set a much lower pace of the game, which consequently caused them to be goalless for 23 minutes. Nevertheless, between 68th and 70th minute, the Atlas Lions did another blitzkrieg, netting twice through two subs – Youssef En-Nesyri and Ismael Saibari, making it 7-0.⚽️ GOAL | Morocco 6-0 Lesotho | Youssef En Nesyripic.twitter.com/5PFPuP5UOG— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) November 18, 2024 Ismael Saibari 🤩⚽2 goals in 2 games in this international break. pic.twitter.com/jia3cb3fvw— Lionstalk (@lions_talk_) November 18, 2024 At the same time, Lesotho recorded their first attempt on target in the 76th minute when the home team’s custodian, Bono, stopped Sera Motebang one-on-one. That situation marked the last notable moment of the game in which Morocco showed their full power and gave no chance to the visitors.In the other Group B match, Gabon beat Central African Republic at away turf 1-0, although the Panthers had already sealed the second place and the AFCON qualification. In the remaining tonight’s duels, in Group A, the Gambia, led by the former Gor Mahia coach Johnny McKinstry brushed Tunisia aside as visitors 1-0, while Comoros triumphed over Madagascar at home by the same result.AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS – QUALIFIERSRound 6MondayMalawi – Burkina Faso 3-0 (1-0)/Mhango 28, Mbulu 57, Aaron 62/Ghana – Niger 1-2 (0-1)/Afriyie 67 – Badamassi 22, Sako 90+2/Libya – Benin 0-0Nigeria – Rwanda 1-2 (0-0)/Chukwueze 59 – Mutsinzi 72, Nshuti 75/Sudan – Angola 0-0Central African Republic – Gabon 0-1 (0-0)/Kanga 74 pen/Comoros – Madagascar 1-0 (0-0)/Bourhane 48/Morocco – Lesotho 7-0 (5-0)/Diaz 5, 15, 42, Rahimi 37, 45+2 pen, En-Nesyri 68, Saibari 70/Tunisia – Gambia 0-1 (0-1)/Ceesay 17/Tuesday16:00: (1.60) Cameroon (3.60) Zimbabwe (6.75)16:00: (2.30) Kenya (3.10) Namibia (3.40)18:00: (1.30) Egypt (5.20) Botswana (11.0)18:00: (2.45) Mauritania (3.10) Cape Verde (3.15)19:00: (2.90) Congo (3.05) Uganda (2.65)19:00: (1.25) DR Congo (5.40) Ethiopia (15.0)19:00: (2.20) Guinea B. (3.30) Mozambique (3.40)19:00: (1.07) Ivory Coast (12.0) Chad (28.0)19:00: (1.22) Mali (6.00) Eswatini (14.0)19:00: (1.25) South Africa (5.40) South Sudan (15.0)19:00: (3.45) Sierra Leone (3.15) Zambia (2.25)19:00: (2.95) Tanzania (3.00) Guinea (2.65)22:00: (1.18) Senegal (7.00) Burundi (16.0)***odds are subject to change***
