Morocco delivered a memorable night in Casablanca, overpowering Niger 5-1 in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday, November 13. In front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the Mohammed V Stadium, the Atlas Lions celebrated their long-awaited return to the iconic Casablanca venue with an attacking performance led by an outstanding Achraf Hakimi.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender marked his return to international action with a magnificent brace, while Yassir Zabiri, Youssef En-Nesyri and debutant Ayoub Oufkir also contributed to Morocco's five-goal display.
Under Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco secured another important three points despite missing several key players, including Ismaël Saibari, Neil El Aynaoui, Soufiane Rahimi, Azzedine Ounahi, Chadi Riad and Ayoub El Kaabi.
The victory keeps the Atlas Lions firmly at the top of Group A with nine points from three matches, strengthening their position in the race for qualification.
Hakimi Returns in Spectacular Fashion
The evening belonged to Achraf Hakimi.
After his absence from recent international action, the Moroccan captain returned to the national setup and immediately demonstrated why he remains one of the most influential players in the squad.
The defender produced an outstanding performance, scoring twice in the first half to help Morocco establish control over the encounter.
His first goal arrived in the 27th minute, before he struck again just before half-time in the 45th minute, completing a superb brace and sending the Casablanca crowd into celebration.
Beyond his goals, Hakimi brought energy, leadership and attacking quality to Morocco's right flank, repeatedly demonstrating his ability to influence the game in both directions.
His return represents a significant boost for Ouahbi as Morocco continue preparing for the challenges ahead.
Yassir Zabiri Opens the Scoring
Before Hakimi took centre stage, Yassir Zabiri gave Morocco the perfect start.
The young forward opened the scoring following an excellent assist from Brahim Díaz, rewarding the team's attacking intentions and giving the hosts an early advantage.
Zabiri's contribution was another encouraging moment for the young Moroccan striker, who continues to strengthen his reputation as one of the country's exciting attacking prospects.
Morocco dominated much of the opening period, although Niger managed to find a response and prevent the hosts from enjoying a completely comfortable first half.
Despite that resistance, Hakimi's two goals ensured that the Atlas Lions went into the break with a commanding 3-1 advantage.
Bounou Celebrates His 100th Appearance for Morocco
Another important moment came before kick-off, when Yassine Bounou received recognition for reaching an extraordinary milestone: his 100th appearance for the Moroccan national team.
The experienced goalkeeper was honoured in front of the Casablanca supporters, celebrating another landmark in a remarkable international career.
Bounou once again demonstrated his importance between the posts, producing a crucial penalty save despite an error during the match that contributed to Niger's goal.
His experience and composure remain valuable assets for the Atlas Lions, particularly as they prepare for increasingly demanding international competitions.
Reaching 100 appearances places another significant achievement alongside the goalkeeper's impressive contributions to Moroccan football over the years.
En-Nesyri and Oufkir Complete the Five-Goal Display
Morocco maintained their attacking ambition after the interval, continuing to put pressure on the Nigerien defence.
With the victory increasingly secure, Ouahbi introduced several substitutes, giving other members of his squad an opportunity to make their contribution.
One of those changes proved particularly effective, as Youssef En-Nesyri found the net after coming off the bench, extending Morocco's advantage and adding another attacking dimension to the performance.
The final chapter belonged to Ayoub Oufkir.
Making his first appearance for the senior national team, the young AZ Alkmaar winger capped his debut with a goal in the 90th minute, completing Morocco's five-goal performance.
It was a memorable introduction to international football for the youngster, who seized his opportunity to make an immediate impression in front of the home supporters.
For Ouahbi, Oufkir's contribution was another positive sign of the attacking depth available within the Moroccan squad.
Morocco Strengthen Their Position at the Top of Group A
Elsewhere in Group A, Gabon defeated Lesotho 2-0 in Franceville, with Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga scoring twice, including a penalty.
Following the third round of qualifying, the standings are as follows:
- Morocco: 9 points
- Gabon: 6 points
- Niger: 3 points
- Lesotho: 0 points
The Atlas Lions have now collected three consecutive victories and remain in control of their qualification campaign.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, November 17, at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Morocco will have another opportunity to confirm their superiority and extend their lead.
Ouahbi Faces an Opportunity to Rotate His Squad
The second encounter against Niger could also provide Mohamed Ouahbi with an opportunity to manage his players' workload.
Several important members of the squad, including Hakimi, Bounou and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, have accumulated significant playing time at club level this season.
With another international fixture approaching, the Moroccan coach could consider rotating certain positions while offering valuable minutes to players who have not yet enjoyed extended opportunities.
The first match demonstrated the importance of Morocco's experienced leaders, but the contributions of Zabiri, Oufkir and other emerging talents also highlighted the potential within the next generation.
Finding the right balance between established internationals and younger players will be essential as the national team continues building towards AFCON 2027.
Could Morocco Climb Higher in the FIFA Rankings?
The victory over Niger could also have an impact beyond the qualifying standings.
Currently occupying seventh place in the FIFA world rankings, Morocco could collect valuable ranking points through another victory in the return fixture.
According to the supplied report, a second win could potentially put the Atlas Lions in contention for sixth place, currently occupied by Brazil.
The next FIFA world ranking update is scheduled for November 18, making the upcoming match in Rabat particularly significant.
Hakimi's Return Sends a Strong Message
Morocco's 5-1 victory was about more than three points. It was a night of important milestones, promising individual performances and renewed excitement surrounding the national team.
Hakimi returned with a brace, Bounou celebrated his 100th international appearance, Zabiri continued his development, and Oufkir marked his senior debut with a goal.
There were still areas for Ouahbi to assess, particularly in terms of defensive concentration and collective cohesion, but the overall result provided plenty of encouragement.
The Atlas Lions are back in Casablanca, back among the goals and firmly in control of their qualifying group. Now, the challenge is to carry that momentum into Rabat and continue building towards another major African campaign.