BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Morocco national football team delivered a commanding second-half performance to thrash Burundi national football team 5-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday as preparations intensify ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The emphŕatic victory formed part of Morocco’s final assessment phase before head coach Mohamed Ouahbi announces his final 26-man squad for the global tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, the match also concluded the Atlas Lions’ mini training camp, where the tec66r6rrrrrŕhnical team used the opportunity to 6revaluate players and refine tactical approaches ahead of the tournament.
Morocco Dominate But Struggle Early
Despite controlling possession and creating several opportunities during the opening half, Morocco initially struggled to break down a disciplined Burundi side.
The Atlas Lions dictated the tempo and spent long periods camped in Burundi’s half, but poor finishing and defensive resilience from the visitors ensured the first half ended goalless.
The deadlock, however, only delayed what eventually became a dominant Moroccan display after the restart.
El Kaabi Sparks Second-Half Explosion
Morocco returned from halftime with greater intensity and quickly overwhelmed Burundi with aggressive attacking football.
Experienced striker Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 59th minute after capitalising on sustained pressure from the hosts.
Just four minutes later, El Kaabi struck again to double Morocco’s advantage and firmly put the Atlas Lions in control of the contest.
The quickfire brace completely shifted the momentum of the game as Burundi struggled to cope with Morocco’s pace, movement and technical quality.
Morocco Continue Ruthless Display
The hosts continued pushing forward and added a third goal in the 71st minute through Tawfik Bentayeb as Morocco’s dominance became increasingly evident.
With Burundi fading physically and defensively, Morocco maintained relentless attacking pressure throughout the closing stages.
Forward Soufiane Benjdida then emerged as another key performer after scoring twice in the final ten minutes to complete the comprehensive 5-0 victory.
The impressive second-half display provided further encouragement for Ouahbi and his coaching staff as Morocco continue building momentum toward the World Cup.
Focus Shifts To Final Preparations
Morocco are widely regarded as one of Africa’s strongest contenders heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their impressive performances in recent international competitions.
The Atlas Lions are expected to use their remaining friendly matches to finalise tactical plans and strengthen squad chemistry before the tournament begins on June 11.
Following the victory over Burundi, Morocco will now prepare for additional warm-up games against Madagascar national football team and Norway national football team in June.
Those fixtures are expected to serve as the final opportunity for the technical team to assess player readiness and make final adjustments before the start of football’s biggest competition.
