The Moroccan national team secured a dominant 4-1 victory over visiting Gabon on Friday at the Adrar Stadium in the first round of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Morocco.
Morocco’s goals were scored by Hakim Ziyech (two penalties in the 10th and 26th minutes), Brahim Diaz, and Ayoub El Kaabi (in the 59th and 82nd minutes), while Gabon’s lone goal was netted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (in the 40th minute from a penalty), though he missed a penalty in the 16th minute.
With this win, Morocco earned its first three points and will participate in the tournament as the host, regardless of their ranking in Group B. They are level with Central African Republic, who also won their match 3-1 against Lesotho.
Morocco started the game strongly and nearly scored in the first minute through Soufiane Rahimi, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but shot directly, before Abde Ezzalzouli had three chances, hitting the post once and the goalkeeper another time.
In the 10th minute, Morocco was awarded a penalty that Ziyech successfully converted. Gabon was also given a penalty at the 16th minute, but Aubameyang hit the post. Shortly after, the referee awarded another penalty to Morocco, which Ziyech again converted in the 26th minute.
Despite this, Gabon kept fighting and won a penalty after Rahimi handled the ball in the box, and this time, Aubameyang put it into the net in the 40th minute.
The second half saw Brahim Diaz score his first goal for Morocco in the 55th minute before being substituted for Ayoub El Kaabi, who added Morocco’s fourth goal in the 82nd minute.
In the remaining minutes, Morocco squandered several easy chances, and Yassine Bounou made key saves against Gabon’s counterattacks. The Moroccan team now leads their group, already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations as the host nation.
