Morocco strike first as Brahim Diaz breaks Lesotho resistance in CAN 2027 qualifier

Morocco took control of their CAN 2027 qualifying match against Lesotho when Brahim Diaz opened the scoring shortly before half-time at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The goal came after Ounahi found El Aynaoui inside the area. A defender blocked the initial effort, but the ball fell to Diaz, who finished from close range to reward Morocco’s dominance.

The Atlas Lions had created several opportunities before finding the breakthrough. Ounahi was played in at the penalty spot by Mazraoui and sent a powerful effort narrowly over the crossbar, while a right-back headed an Ounahi cross into the side-netting after arriving at the far post.

Issa Diop also went close with a header from El Khannouss’ free-kick, the effort passing just wide of Sekhoane Moerane’s goal, with the Lesotho goalkeeper appearing beaten. Morocco were awarded another promising free-kick after a foul, although the resulting delivery was cleared comfortably.

El Khannouss had earlier worked himself into an excellent shooting position in the penalty area but failed to hit the target. The referee also deemed one challenge to be legal, despite some doubt from the angle shown on the broadcast.

Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi made extensive changes to the side that defeated Gabon 2-0 in their opening Group A match. Ismael Saibari returned from suspension and was named in the starting XI, while Achraf Hakimi began on the bench, apparently being rested.

Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Oussama Targhalline and Bilal El Khannouss were brought into the starting line-up. Nayef Aguerd was unavailable, while Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ez Abde were among the substitutes.

Morocco began their campaign with a controlled victory over Gabon last Friday. Noussair Mazraoui scored in the 36th minute before Soufiane Rahimi sealed the result late in the match after being set up by El Khannouss.

Lesotho had to come through the preliminary round, beating the Seychelles, to reach the group stage of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. The Crocodiles opened their Group A campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat by Niger in Accra, Ghana.

Morocco also have the recent head-to-head record in their favour. Their past two meetings with Lesotho ended in victories, although the first was secured only in the third minute of added time in September 2024 during the CAN 2025 qualifiers, when Diaz scored in Agadir.

When the teams met again in Oujda two months later, Morocco won 7-0. Diaz completed a hat-trick and Rahimi scored twice in a comprehensive success.