Morocco will set out to maintain their 100% record in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they welcome Lesotho to the Honneur Stadium on Monday in the final round of matches.
The home side claimed a narrow 1-0 triumph in their only previous meeting against the visitors back in September and are huge favourites to complete a double in Oujda.
Match preview
Despite being guaranteed an automatic spot in the 2025 AFCON due to their status as host nation, Morocco are participating in the qualifiers for secondary reasons but have shown no signs of taking things with levity.
Walid Regragui's men laid down an early statement of intent with a 4-1 thrashing of Gabon in their opening outing before picking up wins over Lesotho and the Central African Republic (two) by a combined score of 10-0.
The Atlas Lions finally saw their run of games without conceding come to an end last time out against Gabon, where they went behind to Denis Bouanga's opener before storming to a 5-1 triumph led by the heroics of Brahim Diaz.
Albeit largely inconsequential, Morocco are well clear at the top of Group B, eight points clear of Gabon in second and a further three points ahead of Lesotho ahead of Monday's encounter between the teams.
Monday's hosts are the only team still with a perfect record in the qualifiers after five matches and now have the opportunity to rack up their highest points tally in an AFCON qualifying campaign since 2017 (16).
Seeking a first-ever appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, Lesotho could not have asked for a worse start to their qualification journey after consecutive defeats to the Central African Republic and Morocco to kick off proceedings.
Leslie Notsi's men finally got themselves on the board with a goalless share of the spoils against Gabon in their third outing on October 11 before suffering a 2-0 defeat to the same opponents four days later.
In the last chance saloon to keep their AFCON ambitions alive, Likuena headed to the Toyota Stadium to face off against CAR on Thursday afternoon and claimed a much-needed 1-0 victory in Bloemfontein.
Lesotho are still in with a chance at securing second place in Group B but would also need results elsewhere to go their way even if they managed to beat Morocco, who are unbeaten since losing to South Africa in January.
Nonetheless, all Monday's visitors can do is take care of things on their end, although their away record does not make for good reading with only two wins in nine matches on enemy territory since the turn of the year.
Team News
Featuring in only his third match for Morocco, Jamal Harkass recorded his first goal against Gabon to kickstart an emphatic comeback and maintain his winning run on the international scene.
Ismael Saibari recorded a goal and an assist apiece in just 10 minutes as a substitute last time out, and that could see him rewarded with a place in the starting XI.
Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri is now up to 22 goals for the home side, only behind Ayoub El Kaabi (26) and Hakim Ziyech (25) among all active players.
Returning to the lineup for Lesotho against CAR, Neo Mokhachane came up with the all-important winning goal to take his tally of international goals to three.
Arguably his nation's best player over the entire AFCON qualifying campaign, goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane will need to put on another inspired display between the sticks here.
Morocco possible starting lineup:
Bono; Mazraoui, Aguerd, Harkass, Hakimi; Amrabat, Ounahi; Saibari, Ben Seghir, Diaz; En-Nesyri
Lesotho possible starting lineup:
Moerane; Matsau, Makhele, Mokokoana, Matlabe; Lebokollane, Fothoane, Matsoele; Letsema, Motebang, Mokhachane
We say: Morocco 3-0 Lesotho
Morocco have been impressive at both ends of the pitch, and it is hard to envisage any other outcome than a win for them in this one.
We fully expect the home side to cruise to a routine victory when all is said and done.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
