Morocco edged past Benin 1-0 on Monday evening at the Fez Sports Complex, securing a 12th consecutive victory and setting a new national record under head coach Walid Regragui.
The decisive moment came in first-half stoppage time when Ayoub El Kaabi produced a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock.
The striker’s acrobatic finish, executed in the second minute of added time, proved enough to separate the two sides in a tightly contested encounter.
Benin, known for their resilience, entered the match with a disciplined defensive setup and showed early determination.
The Cheetahs stood firm for much of the opening half, frustrating the Atlas Lions by cutting off attacking channels and closing down spaces effectively.
Morocco, for their part, maintained patient possession and applied sustained pressure without immediate reward.
El Kaabi’s goal, a moment of improvisation and technique, came as a well-timed breakthrough after 45 minutes of probing.
The Moroccan forward seized on a loose ball in the box and delivered an audacious strike to send the home crowd into celebration just before the interval.
The second half resumed with both teams committed to their tactical approaches.
Benin continued to rely on counterattacks, hoping to exploit spaces left by Morocco’s high line, while the hosts persisted with short-passing combinations in search of a second goal.
Despite moments of promise on either side, neither team managed to convert their chances in the final third.
Morocco remained in control of possession but struggled with the final pass, while Benin’s forays forward were neutralised by a solid Moroccan defence.
In the end, El Kaabi’s lone strike was sufficient to extend Morocco’s winning streak to a historic 12 matches.
The result not only ensured another clean sheet for Regragui’s men but also propelled the national team past the previous record held by former coach Vahid Halilhodžić.
This milestone win serves as another statement of intent from a Moroccan side that continues to impress with its consistency and tactical maturity.
The Atlas Lions now turn their focus to upcoming fixtures with renewed momentum and confidence as one of the continent’s in-form teams.
