Morocco became the first African team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their 5-0 thumping of 10-man Niger in Rabat on Friday, Afrosport reports.
The Nigeriens were reduced to 10 men after Abdoul-Latif Goumey was sent off in the 26th minute for receiving two yellow cards.
This allowed the Moroccans to charge with their onslaught as PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ismael Saibari netted a first half brace, the second being assisted by Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi.
It continued in the second half with Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi netting the third goal in the 51st minute while new Lille signing Hamza Igamane scored the fourth before assisting Girona’s Azzedine Ounahi for the fifth and final goal.
هيا بنا الى الـــــمــــونـــديــــال ✈️
Official ✅ Our National Team secures its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup! 👏🏻🤩#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/YNLSNwmFWT
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) September 5, 2025
The Atlas Lions have maintained their 100% record in the qualifiers and are now eight points clear of second-placed Tanzania in Group E with two matches left to play.
Meanwhile in Group B, Senegal put more pressure on leaders DR Congo as they defeated Sudan 2-0 courtesy of first half goals from Al-Hilal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr.
🔚 Grace à des buts de Kalidou Koulibaly et Pape Matar Sarr, le Sénégal s’impose 2-0 contre le Soudan. En attendant leur déplacement mardi à Kinshasa, nos lions sont deuxième du groupe B à l’issue de la 7e journée des éliminatoires du Mondial 2026. #WCQ2026 pic.twitter.com/DzlNyXEsUO
— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) September 5, 2025
The Senegalese are just one point behind the Congolese ahead of their crunch clash in Kinshasa on Tuesday which could be a big determinant on who takes top spot.
The other Group B game saw Mauritania move above Togo into fourth place after their 2-0 win over the Sparrowhawks in Nouadhibou.
In Group A, seven-time African champions Egypt went five points clear as penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush earned them a 2-0 win over Ethiopia while Vakoun Bayo’s third minute strike handed reigning African champions Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Burundi to send them back to the top of Group F.
