Morocco Edge Republic of Congo 1–0 in Lacklustre World Cup Qualifier Finale
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Morocco concluded their World Cup qualifying campaign with a narrow 1–0 victory over the Republic of Congo in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night. Despite dominating possession throughout the match, the Atlas Lions struggled to create clear-cut chances and failed to deliver a convincing performance.
Coach Walid Regragui’s side controlled much of the play but lacked sharpness in the final third. Early efforts from Igamane, Diaz, and Saibari failed to test the Congolese goalkeeper, while set pieces from Achraf Hakimi offered little threat. The best opportunity of the first half fell to Ben Seghir, who squandered a close-range chance just before the break.
Regragui introduced striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the second half and switched to a 4-4-2 formation, a tactical change that finally broke the deadlock. In the 63rd minute, Saibari threaded a pass to Hakimi, who squared across goal for En-Nesyri to slot home the winner.
Despite the breakthrough, Morocco’s attacking play remained inconsistent and wasteful. Their numerous crosses and through balls rarely troubled the 133rd-ranked Congolese defence, while Saibari missed a golden opportunity in stoppage time to double the lead.
The narrow victory highlighted Morocco’s need to rediscover their attacking rhythm ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, set to begin in just two months. The Atlas Lions will next host Comoros at the same venue on December 21, aiming to build momentum before the continental tournament.
