Morocco has emerged as the first African team to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after sealing a commanding 5–0 victory over Niger in Rabat on Friday night.

This will be the Atlas Lions’ third consecutive World Cup appearance and their seventh overall since first featuring on the global stage.

The result saw Morocco clinch top spot in Group E with two matches left to play, following Eritrea’s withdrawal from the qualifiers.

Tanzania’s earlier draw against Congo in their Matchday 6 clash also worked in Morocco’s favour, ensuring their qualification ahead of schedule.

Speaking in a post-match interview, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui expressed satisfaction with his team’s win over Niger, saying attention will now turn to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in December.

“Six matches, six wins even against teams that play with 10 men behind… I’m satisfied. We have qualified for the World Cup, now we will focus on the AFCON,” he said.

Regragui praised his players for their intensity and discipline, particularly in the early stages when Niger picked up quick yellow cards. He noted that the numerical advantage after Niger was reduced to 10 men, creating space that Morocco exploited effectively.

“It’s historic. We keep building on this dynamic. At the end, the most important thing is qualification,” Regragui said.

“When you play 11 against 10, there is sometimes a little relaxation. But the team did the job. We started strong, and 5–0 is a big result for this first match at the stadium.”

Looking ahead to AFCON, Regragui acknowledged the heightened expectations on the Atlas Lions.

“Fans have the right to demand the (AFCON) trophy. They have been waiting for it for so long. I have this mission, this difficult mission. I have big ambitions and want this to happen,” he said.

The Atlas Lions’ qualification comes as most groups across Africa concluded Matchday 7, leaving three fixtures remaining for the majority of teams in November and March.

Morocco’s campaign has been ruthless, with a string of victories including 2–0 wins over Tanzania, 2–1 over Zambia, 6–0 over Congo, and wins against Niger by 2–1 and 5–0. Ayoub El Kaabi leads their scoring charts with four goals.

With Africa allocated nine automatic slots for the expanded finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, Morocco is the first side from the continent to secure one and the 17th nation.

The remaining group winners will join them, while the best runners-up will pursue a potential tenth berth via the inter-confederation play-off route.

The qualification adds to a remarkable chapter in Moroccan football. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Walid Regragui’s men stunned Spain and Portugal to become the first African team to reach a semi-final, before finishing fourth. Much of the tactical discipline from that run, compact defending, balanced midfield play and quick vertical transitions have been on display again during these qualifiers.

Elsewhere, the race remains wide open. Several groups are tightly contested, with goal difference likely to play a decisive role in second-place finishes and play-off paths.

Group A: Egypt (19 points) leads with six wins and one draw, while Burkina Faso (14) remains close after thrashing Djibouti 6–0. Sierra Leone (8), Guinea-Bissau (7) and Ethiopia (6) are contesting third place, while Djibouti (1) sit bottom. Burkina Faso also ranks strongly among the second-placed teams.

Group B: DR Congo (16) stayed on top after a 4–1 away win against South Sudan. Senegal (15) are still unbeaten and close behind, with Sudan (12) also in contention. Mauritania (5), Togo (4) and South Sudan (3) face steep odds.

Group C: South Africa (16) stretched their lead by beating Lesotho 3–0. Benin (11) edged Zimbabwe to hold second, while Nigeria (10) revived their campaign with a 1–0 win over Rwanda (8), courtesy of Tolu Arokodare’s second-half strike. Lesotho (6) and Zimbabwe (4) trail the pack.

Group D: Cape Verde (16) stayed ahead of Cameroon (15), who remain unbeaten. Libya (11) keeps outside hopes alive, with Angola (7), Mauritius (5) and Eswatini (2) further adrift.

Group E: Morocco (18) is already through. Tanzania (10) leads the chase for second place, but Zambia (6, with five games played) and Niger (6, also with five games played) have a game in hand. Congo (1) is rooted to the bottom. Eritrea withdrew from the group, leaving uneven fixtures.

Group F: Côte d’Ivoire (19) tops the standings by a single point ahead of Gabon (18). Burundi (10) occupies third, with Gambia (7) and Kenya (6) needing strong finishes. Seychelles (0) are winless. The Elephants also boast an impressive 15:0 goal record.

Group G: Algeria (18) remain leaders despite a slip. Uganda (12) moved into second after a 4–0 win over Mozambique, who are also on 12 points but behind on goal difference. Guinea (10) and Botswana (9) remain in contention, while Somalia (1) are bottom.

Group H: Tunisia (19) have yet to concede a goal (12 scored, none against) and holds a seven-point lead. Namibia (12), Liberia (10) and Equatorial Guinea (10) are jostling for second, with Malawi (9) also in the mix. São Tomé and Príncipe (1) are last.

Group I: Ghana (16) retained their lead after a 1–1 draw against Chad, but Madagascar (13), Mali (12) and Comoros (12) are still within striking distance. Central African Republic (5) and Chad (1) sit bottom.