Morocco National Football Team Africa Cup Of Nations Lesotho National Football Team Morocco

Morocco's Atlas Lions Clinch Hard-Fought Victory over Lesotho in AFCON Qualifiers

Atlas Lions Triumph Amidst Absence of Key Players

The Morocco national football team, the Atlas Lions, emerged victorious in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Lesotho on Wednesday. The match, played at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, saw the Atlas Lions secure a 2-1 win, despite missing several key players due to injuries and club commitments.

First Half Dominance and Second Half Resilience

Morocco dominated the first half, with Ayoub El Kaabi opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Despite their dominance, Morocco failed to convert their chances, allowing Lesotho to equalize through Nkoto Masoabi's strike in the 35th minute. The second half saw a more competitive Lesotho side, but Morocco's resilience and determination ultimately prevailed. In the 71st minute, Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal, securing the three points for the Atlas Lions.

Significance of the Victory and Path to AFCON

This victory is crucial for Morocco's AFCON qualification campaign as they aim to secure a spot in the tournament to be held in Ivory Coast next year. The Atlas Lions are currently second in Group K with six points from three matches, behind South Africa who has seven points. Morocco's next qualifying match is scheduled for March 2023 against Eswatini.