Morocco continued their strong start to the AFCON 2027 qualifiers with a 2–0 victory over Lesotho at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
After beating Gabon 2–0 in Rabat, the Atlas Lions made it back-to-back victories to move onto six points from two matches and strengthen their position at the top of the group.
The result was another controlled performance from Mohamed Ouahbi's side, although the Moroccan attack had to work patiently against a disciplined Lesotho defense before finally finding the breakthrough.
Six Changes From the Gabon Victory
Ouahbi made six changes to the starting XI that defeated Gabon.
Ismael Saibari returned after suspension, while Brahim Diaz was restored to the lineup after missing the opening match through muscular discomfort.
At the back, Zakaria El Ouahdi replaced Ali Maamar, while Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal made his first start for the senior national team alongside Issa Diop.
In midfield, Oussama Targhalline came in for Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Bilal El Khannouss returned to the starting XI.
The attacking trio consisted of Diaz, Saibari and El Khannouss.
Morocco Control the First Half
The opening stages were relatively quiet, with Lesotho defending deep and making it difficult for Morocco to find spaces between the lines.
The Atlas Lions registered their first corner in the ninth minute, but Ounahi's delivery failed to create a clear opportunity.
Five minutes later, Saibari received the ball in midfield, beat his marker and attempted a shot, only for a defender to block the effort.
The resulting attack eventually reached Diaz, who tried to play a ball through the Lesotho defensive line, but the goalkeeper collected it comfortably.
Chances Begin to Arrive
Morocco gradually increased the pressure.
Ounahi tested the goalkeeper with a powerful effort from outside the box in the 18th minute before a promising combination between him and El Khannouss created another opportunity shortly afterwards.
The attacking midfielder delivered a cutback towards El Ouahdi, but the right-back could not turn the chance into an opening goal.
Morocco then produced one of their best passages of the first half, moving the ball around for almost two minutes before Saibari found Diaz.
The Real Madrid forward controlled the ball brilliantly, eliminated two defenders and fired towards the far corner, but his effort narrowly missed the target.
Diaz Finds the Opening
The breakthrough finally arrived shortly before half-time.
After Morocco continued to circulate the ball around the Lesotho defense, Azzedine Ounahi found space between the lines and played the ball into the danger area.
The pass initially appeared intended for Neil El Aynaoui, but it fell perfectly for Brahim Diaz. The Madrid-based attacker made no mistake, calmly finishing with his left foot to give Morocco a 1–0 lead.
It was an important goal at a moment when the Atlas Lions had dominated possession but struggled to turn their control into a decisive advantage.
Lesotho Continue to Defend Deep
Morocco maintained control after the interval, continuing to dominate possession and search for a second goal.
Lesotho remained compact, however, limiting the space available around the penalty area.
Ounahi attempted another long-range effort early in the second half, but it sailed comfortably wide.
As the match progressed, Morocco continued to create openings but lacked precision with the final pass or finish.
Ouahbi Changes the Shape
With the match still finely balanced, the coach introduced Achraf Hakimi, Soufiane Rahimi and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
The changes also brought a tactical adjustment, with Morocco moving into a 4-4-2 diamond.
Hakimi replaced Mazraoui, who left the pitch with an injury, while Rahimi and Ezzalzouli added fresh attacking energy.
The changes helped Morocco maintain pressure as the game entered its final stages.
Ounahi Doubles Morocco’s Lead
The second goal finally arrived in the 82nd minute.
A quick attacking move saw El Khannouss release Rahimi into space behind the defense.
The Al Ain forward carried the ball forward before cutting it back into the path of Ounahi, who finished the move with composure.
The midfielder found the back of the net to make it 2–0, effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
Six Points From Six
The victory gives Morocco a perfect start to their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, with two wins from two matches and six points collected.
After 2–0 victories over Gabon and Lesotho, the Atlas Lions have also maintained two clean consecutive sheets.
The team will now return to Morocco to prepare for their final fixture of the international window: a friendly against Ghana in Tangier on October 4.
For Ouahbi, the opening two qualifiers have delivered the results Morocco wanted. The next step will be to build on that perfect start while continuing to refine the team's attacking efficiency ahead of the challenges to come.