Morocco’s attacking blueprint on show as Niger are swept aside 5-1

Morocco under Mohamed Wahbi made a forceful statement of attacking intent by beating Niger 5-1 in Casablanca, with high pressing, quick ball recovery and sustained pressure at the heart of their performance.

The result in Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Mohammed V Sports Complex moved Morocco to nine points from three games and kept them firmly at the top of Group A.

Wahbi was pleased with how his players applied ideas developed in training, particularly their pressing, attacking numbers and movement into the penalty area. He said the plan was to start at high speed and disrupt a Niger side expected to defend in a compact shape.

“We wanted to start with great intensity, be aggressive in our pressing, maintain a constant counter-press and make the most of every attack,” Wahbi said, in comments carried by Moroccan website Hespress.

Morocco took the lead after only four minutes when Yasser Zabiri converted Brahim Diaz’s pass. Achraf Hakimi then doubled the advantage in the 27th minute, but the hosts were unsettled when a third goal was disallowed.

Wahbi said the decision affected the rhythm of the match and allowed Niger back into the contest. He also accepted that Morocco contributed to the change in momentum by making mistakes, with Mohamed Abderrahman reducing the deficit in the 41st minute.

Hakimi restored Morocco’s two-goal cushion in first-half stoppage time, scoring his second of the night in the third added minute. Wahbi regarded that goal as crucial because it helped his side regain control and go into the interval 3-1 ahead.

Morocco continued to balance attacking ambition with defensive discipline after the break. Youssef En-Nesyri had an earlier goal ruled out for offside, but he found the net in the 77th minute to make it 4-1. Ayoub Ouafkir completed the scoring in the 90th minute.

Wahbi described the performance as the combination he had wanted: “A beautiful win, three points, a good performance, intensity and desire.”

However, the coach said the emphatic scoreline did not mean Morocco’s work was complete. He identified handling high pressure from opponents and breaking down teams that defend deep with closely packed lines as areas requiring improvement.

He also acknowledged that his aggressive approach involved risks, meaning Morocco must improve the balance between committing players forward and retaining defensive structure when possession is lost. Wahbi said the players wanted to entertain supporters while sending a message that beating Morocco on home soil would be difficult.

The match also marked Yassine Bounou’s 100th international appearance for Morocco.

Morocco had previously beaten Gabon and Lesotho 2-0, and now lead the group on nine points. Gabon are second on six, with Niger third on three.

The teams meet again next Tuesday at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, when Wahbi will look to extend Morocco’s winning run while addressing the weaknesses exposed in the first meeting.