Eminently jostled during the first quarter of an hour, conceding the opening score as a bonus, Morocco recovered perfectly to win 1-5 on arrival against Gabon, this Friday at the Stade de Franceville, in the part of the 5th and penultimate qualifying day for CAN 2025. A success marked by a double from Brahim Diaz and completed by a sumptuous goal from Ismael Saibari.
Walid Regragui attempted a tactical gamble from the start, by aligning Sofyan Amrabat alone in front of the defense. A tactic that proved unprofitable, even suicidal. Since the Gabonese, qualified without playing since the day beforeand more dashing at the start of the match than going into the match, overwhelmed the rearguard. With the key being the opening of the score in the 4th minute of play. Indeed, after a first warning (3rd), Denis Bouanga sumptuously concluded an opportunity built from behind. Served on the left by Guélor Kanga, the MLS resident found the left corner of Yassine Bounou with a nice shot (1-0).
Regragui redeems himself, Morocco regains control
Immediate reaction from Regragui, aware of his tactical error, the coach brought Azzedine Ounahi down a little further, whose initial mission was to support the offensive players higher up. While the Atlas Lions reorganized themselves tactically, the Gabonese took advantage of this moment of hesitation to once again find the path to Bounou's net through their captain Aubameyang. But the Al-Qadsiah striker's goal was invalidated for an illegal position (9th).
THE Moroccans had not yet left the inn. Since a minute later, captain Achraf Hakimi was forced to clear at the last minute for a corner a cross from his Gabonese counterpart coming from the right for a teammate ideally placed at the far post (10th). The Atlas Lions tried to get their heads above water, but got stuck in the opposing defense, like a teammate in the area in the 11th minute. The last Gabonese wave passed two minutes later with a header off target when a ball landed from the right (13th).
The storm passed, Morocco began to put its game down. And the first sanction did not take long to fall for their opponents. On a free kick perfectly placed from the left by Hakimi, Jamal Harkass beat Loyce Mbaba at the far post and tied the two teams (1-1, 20th). Morocco was doing better. This materialized on the scoreboard with the second Moroccan goal scored by Brahim Diaz. The Real Madrid attacker took back a deflected ball following a corner kick from the right (1-2, 20th).
Gabon suffers, Morocco unfolds
Clearly, Gabon was suffering from Moroccan set pieces. This is evidenced by the goal of Diaz, who scored the double, still an opportunist at the far post, following a favorable counter from a corner taken from the left (1-3, 23rd). It then took a clearance from Aaron Appindangoyé in front of the empty goal, from a corner (28th), then a reflex save from Mbaba against a header from Ayoub El Kaabi (30th), as well as the invalidation of a goal from the Olympiakos attacker to limit the damage (50th).
The pace dropped slightly in the second half. Although the Moroccans still lead the game. With a little less precision this time. And this, like a shot literally above Ounahi, while he was well served behind by Noussair Mazraoui from the left (67th).
Saibari's sumptuous goal
On a rare opportunity initiated by a good call behind the defense, Gabon re-worried Morocco with a quick strike from returning Rody Effaghe (75th), but it was Regragui's men who added to the score thanks to coaching winner. Indeed, the returning Ismael Saibari crossed from the left for Youssef En-Nesyri who only had to push into the back of the net (1-4, 81st). Nine minutes later, the PSV Eindhoven midfielder turned into a scorer by inventing a sumptuous goal in the top corner from his left side (1-5, 90th).
Morocco continues its flawless performance and relegates Gabon to now 8 points behind. The Atlas Lions will close the qualifiers on Monday with a final opposition against Lesotho, while the Gabonese will meet the Central African Republic.
The Gabon-Morocco compositions
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