Even if it is automatically qualified as the organizing country of CAN 2025, Morocco put out a strong match against the Central African Republic to win largely (5-0) in front of its public. With three victories in three matches, the Atlas Lions remain firmly at the top of Pool B.
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If the Central African Republic for a moment believed that Morocco, already qualified for CAN 2025could perhaps ease up, she quickly became disillusioned. Saturday, in front of its audience at the Oujda stadium of honor, the Atlas Lions offered a great show during, above all, a high-level first period which saw the Central Africans surpassed in intensity, technique and commitment.
Walid Regragui’s men stunned those of Raoul Savoy in 45 minutes, helped by the performance of Azzedine Ounahi, double scorer and decisive passer. However, it was Ezzalzouli who opened the scoring by closely catching a ball released by Dominique Youfeigane after a strike from Rahimi (18th).
A second ticket for Gabon or the CAR
It was from the 38th minute that Ounahi began to show, doubling the lead with a great strike at the edge of the area which ended in the top corner. Just before half-time, the former Marseillais served as a support point for Parisian Achraf Hakimi who scored the third goal with a subtle strike from the left (45th). In stoppage time in the first period, Ounahi completed his demonstration by taking advantage of a back pass from Ezzalzouli to punish Youfeigane a fourth time.
The Central Africans had the opportunities to reduce the score thanks in particular to Louis Mafouta, but the striker from Amiens (France) often clashed with Munir, replacing an injured Bono and forced to come off at the half-hour mark. game (32nd).
Until the end, the Moroccans will continue to torment the Fauves, scoring a fifth goal (70th) on a penalty from Rahimi, discovered during the Paris Olympics with Morocco who finished with the bronze medal around the neck.
The Atlas Lions keep the lead in their group B ahead of Gabon (4 points) and the CAR (3 points) and Lesotho (1 point). The second qualifying ticket in this group should be played between the Fauves and the Panthers.
Also readCAN 2025: Calendar, results, and rankings of the qualifiers