Morocco cruise past Madagascar 4-0 in pre-World Cup friendly

Morocco continued their impressive build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over Madagascar in an international friendly on Tuesday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The Atlas Lions produced another dominant display under head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, with Ismael Saibari scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi and Ayoub El Kaabi added further goals to seal a comfortable win in front of the home crowd.

Saibari Leads Early Morocco Dominance

Morocco wasted little time asserting their authority and opened the scoring in the third minute through Saibari, who finished off a move created by Bilal El Khannouss.

The PSV Eindhoven midfielder continued to cause problems for Madagascar and doubled the Atlas Lions’ advantage in the 25th minute, giving the hosts firm control of the contest before halftime.

With Morocco dictating possession and creating the better opportunities, Madagascar struggled to cope with the movement and intensity of the home side throughout the opening period.

Rahimi and El Kaabi Complete Comfortable Victory

Morocco maintained their dominance after the break and continued to push forward in search of more goals.

Their third arrived in the 78th minute when Soufiane Rahimi calmly converted from the penalty spot to further extend the lead.

Ayoub El Kaabi then put the finishing touches on the performance six minutes later, finding the net in the 84th minute to complete a convincing 4-0 triumph.

Ouahbi Rotates Squad Ahead of World Cup

The friendly also provided Ouahbi with another opportunity to assess his squad before the team’s departure for North America.

Several substitutions were introduced during the second half as the Moroccan coach evaluated different tactical combinations and player partnerships ahead of the tournament.

The match formed part of Morocco’s final preparations following their recent 5-0 victory over Burundi, with the coaching staff focused on maintaining momentum, improving team chemistry and sharpening attacking efficiency before the World Cup begins.

Atlas Lions Dominate the Statistics

According to Sofascore statistics, Morocco controlled 70 per cent of possession compared to Madagascar’s 30 per cent.

The Atlas Lions also dominated proceedings throughout the contest, underlining the gulf in quality between the two sides as they secured another confidence-boosting result.

Saibari Continues Outstanding Form

The match once again highlighted the excellent form of Ismael Saibari, who has enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 campaign with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.

The Moroccan midfielder scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in the Eredivisie, finishing as PSV’s leading scorer and playing a crucial role in the club’s title-winning season.

His performances also extended into European competition, where he impressed in the UEFA Champions League and strengthened his reputation as one of the Netherlands’ standout performers.

Saibari’s latest brace for Morocco will only increase expectations as the Atlas Lions prepare for another World Cup campaign following their historic semi-final run at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Norway Test Awaits

Morocco will conclude their World Cup preparations with a final friendly against Norway on June 7.

The match, scheduled to take place at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, will provide Ouahbi and his players with one last opportunity to fine-tune their plans before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.