Can 2025. Soufiane Rahimi shines during Morocco’s crushing victory against Lesotho (7-0)

Tuesday 19th November 2024 12:32 AM

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Since the Olympic Games, Soufiane Rahimi is carried in a star shape every time he dons the national team jersey. With his deep calls, his excellent pivot play and his usual generosity, he greatly contributed to the Atlas Lions’ offensive festival against Lesotho (7-0).

The Crocodiles defense and their goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane had a bad evening in Oujda, Monday November 18, as part of the 6th day of the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. They will undoubtedly remember the incessant activity of Soufiane Rahimi on the front of the Moroccan attack.

Although there is no longer a small team in modern football, Lesotho seems to be the exception that proves the rule. The typical Moroccan team had no trouble getting rid of an opponent well within their reach. Everything happened too quickly for the Crocodiles. The fate of the match was sealed in the first half, the time it took to Brahim Diaz to score a double (5′, 15′) and to Soufiane Rahimi to score the third (37′) before giving Madrid the hat-trick on the fourth goal (42′).

A recital concluded during the first act by a penalty obtained and transformed by Soufiane Rahimi (45+2), replaced at the hour mark by Youssef En-Nesyri, scorer of the sixth goal of the match (68′), two minutes before the 7th goal by Ismael Saibari (70′). At 28 years old, Soufiane Rahimi seems at the top of his form.

With his club Al Ain (UAE), he enjoyed a string of top-flight seasons. This summer in Paris, the former Raja de Casablanca striker led the Olympic national team to a historic bronze medal, finishing top scorer of the tournament with eight goals in six matches.

Soufiane Rahimi has become essential to EN

Confirmation was expected among the A’s. And the least we can say is that he did not disappoint. The victory against Lesotho attests to this. The opponent’s weakness should not overshadow his XXL performance. During this meeting, quickly transformed into attack-defense, Brahim Diaz opened the scoring by completing a magnificent action built on the left side and finished on the right side, thanks to a service from Azzedine Ounahi in the area.

The intelligent movement of Soufiane Rahimi was essential in this action. His call created a gap in the defense, allowing Ounahi to have more time and space to serve Diaz. Rahimi could have been credited with a second assist if Eliesse Ben Seghir had not taken his shot too far (13′). But it was only a postponement.

By his call to the outside, Soufiane Rahimi allows Abdessamad Ezzalzouli to find himself alone at the entrance to the penalty area.

On the action where Brahim Diaz scores his double, mystifying the goalkeeper with a powerful cross shot at ground level on a shift from Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Rahimi again attracted a defender with a call, paving the way for Ezzalzouli towards the surface. A few minutes laterRahimi again served Azzedine Ounahi after an overflow on the right side, but the midfielder’s shot ended up hitting the base of Lesotho’s post (37′).

On the action of Brahim Diaz’s third goal, Soufiane Rahimi plays a key role by offering a pivot solution and attracting a defender, thus freeing up space for Diaz.

The ensuing corner allowed Rahimi to score his 9th goal in 25 caps with the A, receiving a corner taken by Eliesse Ben Seghir (38′). And he didn’t stop there. Less than ten minutes later, Rahimi offered a valuable pivot relay, attracting his direct opponent to open a boulevard for Diaz, which he served with a subtle deflection for the 4th goal.

Soufiane Rahimi’s speed and timing when making his call allowed him to gain the advantage over his defender and win a penalty.

In another register, the native of Casablanca overtook the axis of Lesotho’s defense with a deep call before being cut down in the area. A penalty that he was responsible for transforming, despite Sekhoane Moerane’s dive. Despite some relaxations, like this save from Yassine Bounou (77′), Morocco made an impression during this qualifying campaign, sending a strong signal to the great African football nations. And Soufiane Rahimi has a lot to do with it.

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