Morocco concludes its AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign against Lesotho on Monday at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda. Scheduled for an 8 p.m. kickoff local time (7 p.m. GMT, 9 p.m. in Lesotho), the match will be broadcast live on Arryadia in Morocco and beIN Sports 2 in France.
A Strong Campaign for the Atlas Lions
Although already qualified as hosts for the 2025 tournament, Morocco has approached these qualifiers with intensity and professionalism.
The Atlas Lions are the only team among the 48 participants to boast a perfect record, having won all five of their matches thus far.
Their consistency has highlighted their dominance in Group K, and they aim to finish with a flawless six wins.
Monday’s match against Lesotho presents what appears to be a straightforward task for the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists. Lesotho, ranked 152nd in the FIFA standings, has struggled throughout the qualifiers.
However, the Likuena recently claimed a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over the Central African Republic, their first win of the campaign.
A Hard-Fought First Encounter
Despite their contrasting fortunes in the qualifiers, Morocco found it challenging to overcome Lesotho in their first meeting in September.
A late strike by Brahim Diaz in the 93rd minute secured a narrow 1-0 win for the Atlas Lions, demonstrating Lesotho’s resilience in defense.
Since then, Diaz has continued to shine for Morocco, delivering an impressive performance on Friday with a brace in a dominant 5-1 victory over Gabon.
His form raises questions about whether coach Walid Regragui will include him in Monday’s lineup or opt to give other players a chance to showcase their abilities.
Potential Squad Rotations
Regragui might use the opportunity to rotate his squad, considering the team’s already secure qualification.
Ismael Saibari, who scored a spectacular goal after coming off the bench against Gabon, could be among the players given a more prominent role.
Regardless of the lineup, Morocco’s focus remains on finishing the qualifiers with a clean sweep and maintaining their momentum as they prepare to host Africa’s premier tournament.
For Lesotho, the match is a chance to test themselves against one of the continent’s top teams and build on their recent victory.
While Morocco will be firm favorites, Lesotho’s determination to leave a lasting impression ensures an intriguing contest.
