Morocco's Impressive Performance Ahead of World Cup 2026
In what was their final home match before the 2026 World Cup, Morocco's Lions of the Atlas delivered a commanding performance against a struggling Madagascar team, clinching a resounding 4-0 victory on Tuesday in Rabat. The win was largely attributed to the exceptional play of Smaïl Saïbari, who scored two goals, showcasing his talent and poise on the field. Additionally, Brahim Diaz, who contributed to the fourth goal, received a warm ovation from the crowd upon his entry into the match.
Match Highlights and Player Performances
The Lions of the Atlas aimed to build confidence before their journey to the United States, and they could not have asked for a better rehearsal. Following a previous 5-0 victory over Burundi, the team, led by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, outclassed Madagascar in a match that was predominately one-sided. The Malagasy Barea spent the evening chasing the ball, struggling to keep up with Morocco's relentless attacking prowess. From the outset, Morocco took control of the game, with Saïbari opening the scoring just four minutes in with a powerful header from a corner kick, making it 1-0. Twenty minutes later, he doubled the lead, capitalizing on a defensive error from Madagascar, displaying calmness and precision to score his second goal (2-0).
Saïbari was a constant threat, creating multiple scoring opportunities and nearly adding to his tally before halftime. The Moroccan side maintained their dominance throughout the match, and even after a significant rotation of players in the second half, they continued to assert control over the match. Sofiane Rahimi scored the third goal from the penalty spot in the 78th minute (3-0), before Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the victory with a goal in the 87th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from Diaz's shot that hit the post (4-0).
One of the standout moments of the evening was the entrance of Brahim Diaz, who, playing for Real Madrid, was met with a rapturous reception from the fans at the Moulay Abdellah complex. The match also marked the first start for 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, who displayed maturity and composure well beyond his years, contributing positively to the team's performance. After the match, coach Ouahbi expressed satisfaction with the squad's performance, emphasizing the importance of player rotation and the overall management of the team. He acknowledged that the upcoming friendly match against Norway, scheduled for June 7 in New Jersey, would provide a more formidable test of the team's readiness ahead of their World Cup opener against Brazil on June 14.
As reported by linternaute.com.
