Substitute Saibari shines with a goal and assist in a big victory for Morocco – Voetbal International

Already placed Morocco has done excellent business by also winning its fifth group match in the qualifying series for the African Cup. When they visited Gabon, which was also already placed, the battle for first place was finally settled in Moroccan favor thanks to a big 1-5 victory, with substitute Ismael Saibari making a brief appearance.

Morocco won thanks to goals from Jamal Harkass, Brahim Diaz (2x), Youssef En-Nesyri and PSV player Ismael Saibari, after Denis Bouanga had given Gabon a surprising lead early in the match. Saibari came into the team for his eighth international match ten minutes before the end, first gave a final pass to En-Nesyri and then scored a goal after a nice dribble.

Morocco, where Hakim Ziyech was not called up for the last two group matches in the African Cup of Nations qualification, has at least lived up to its role as favorite in its group. The team of national coach Walid Regragui has definitively taken first place in group B and will face Lesotho in the last group match at home on Monday evening. That team is in third place in the group with four points, but has already been eliminated for the next round due to the mutual result against Gabon.

Thanks to the victory, Morocco has definitively secured first place in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification. The Atlas leeuwen prior to the game they already had a five-point lead, which they could only lose in two consecutive defeats. Gabon, the number two in the group, will play its last group match against the Central African Republic, which had already been eliminated with only three points from the first five games.

Thanks to the victory, Morocco has qualified as group winner for the final tournament for the African Cup. That tournament will kick off on December 21, 2025 and will last until January 18, 2026.

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