In a demonstration of mastery and talent, the Moroccan football selection largely dominated its Central African counterpart, Saturday evening at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda, by winning 5-0 during the 3rd day of the World Cup qualifiers. Africa of Nations (CAN) 2025.
Already qualified as host country, the Atlas Lions nevertheless approached this match with seriousness and determination, demonstrating once again that they are among the favorites for this prestigious competition. Faced with a helpless Central African Republic, Walid Regragui’s players delivered a masterful performance, worthy of their rank.
The evening started brightly thanks to Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, who opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a precise strike, setting the tone for this one-sided encounter. The young winger, as impactful as ever, put the Central African defense under pressure from the first moments.
Midfielder Azzeddine Ounahi, imperial, then took over by scoring a double (38th and 45+2nd), demonstrating once again his ability to be decisive in crucial moments. Between these two achievements, the inevitable Achraf Hakimi, a real dynamo on the right flank, scored with a powerful strike in the 45th minute, thus sealing a first half dominated from start to finish by Morocco.
In the second period, the Atlas Lions left nothing to chance. Soufiane Rahimi, entering the game with all the confidence he is known for, added a fifth goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, confirming Moroccan superiority in this meeting.
This clear and clear victory confirms Morocco’s status as one of the big favorites for the next African Cup of Nations. Even already qualified, Walid Regragui’s men continue to display impressive consistency in these qualifiers, consolidating their first place in Group B with 9 points after their previous successes against Gabon (4-1) and Lesotho (1-0) .
This match against the Central African Republic, far from being a simple formality, allowed the coach to refine his tactical choices and test new elements while ensuring continuity in the game. With talents like Ounahi, Ezzalzouli, Hakimi , and Rahimi, the Moroccan selection seems to have found a perfect balance between youth and experience, which augurs excellent results for the future.
While the Atlas Lions are riding the wave of success, the situation is more complicated for the other teams in the group. The Central African Republic, despite an initial victory against Lesotho (3-1), now occupies third place with only 3 points. For its part, Gabon, held in check by Lesotho (0-0) last Friday, remains in second place with 4 points.
This situation places Morocco in a position of strength, their already acquired qualification allowing them to approach the next matches with serenity, while fine-tuning the final adjustments before the big deadline of 2025.
Abderrazzak Boussaid/Le7tv
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