Brahim and Ounahi score for Morocco – Egypt without Salah

Brahim and Ounahi score for Morocco – Egypt without Salah

According to Mundodeportivo.

Background

Brahim Díaz, who plays for Real Madrid, not only demonstrated his individual class with his goal in this game, but also highlighted his importance for the Moroccan national team. His performance will be watched by fans and pundits alike as he plays a key role in Morocco's Copa Africa ambitions.

Why this is important

Morocco's successful start to qualifying for the 2027 Copa Africa shows the strength of the team, which is considered the reigning champion and quarter-finalist of the 2026 World Cup. The goals from Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi underline the offensive quality of the team, which now takes the lead in Group A. This could be crucial for players' confidence, especially in a year where the Copa África is in focus.

Key findings

• Brahim and Ounahi score for Morocco – Egypt without Salah.
• Morocco makes a successful start to qualifying for the 2027 African Cup of Nations with goals from Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi.
• Brahim and Ounahi marcan con Marruecos y manita de Egipto sin Salah.

Morocco, the 2026 World Cup quarter-finalists and reigning champions, have made a promising start to qualifying for the 2027 African Cup of Nations. After celebrating a 2-0 win against Gabon in Rabat on Thursday, the team impressed again today with the same result against Lesotho. The match took place in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as Lesotho does not have a stadium that meets international standards. Madrid's Brahim Díaz opened the scoring in the 44th minute, taking advantage of a rebound in the penalty area and sending the ball low into the net. Girona FC player Azzedine Ounahi scored the second goal eight minutes from time with a precise, well-placed shot from a back pass from Soufiane Brahim. Morocco leads Group A with 6 points. In Group B, Egypt moved to the top of the table after a narrow 0-0 draw against Angola and an impressive 5-0 win over South Sudan, despite the absence of superstar Mohamed Salah. The reason for his absence was concern about a possible injury on artificial turf. Omar Marmoush was the standout player of the game, scoring two goals (49th and 83rd minutes), while Mostafa Zico (36th), Ibrahim Adel (75th) and young Barcelona striker Hamza Abdelkarim (92nd) completed the sweep. In Group C, Ivory Coast leads with 6 points, closely followed by Gambia after they beat Somalia 2-0 thanks to goals from Yann Gboho and Bazoumana Touré. Ghana, surprisingly at the bottom of the table with 0 points, lost 2-4 at home to Gambia, increasing the pressure on coach Carlos Queiroz. In Group G, Cameroon lead by 4 points after a 1-1 draw against Congo, which came thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Melvin Zinga. In Group H, Tunisia are third with 2 points behind Uganda with 4 points after they earned their second draw against Botswana despite a double goal scorer from Hazem Mastouri (2-2). In Group I, Algeria lead by 4 points after they drew 2-2 against Burundi. Mohamed Belloumi and Adil Boulbina avoided defeat after being 2-0 down. In Group J, former France international Patrick Vieira celebrated his first win as Senegal coach as they beat Ethiopia 1-0. Ibrahim Mbaye, now at Aston Villa, scored the winning goal. In Group K, Cabo Verde, one of the surprise teams at the last World Cup, suffered a 2-1 defeat against Rwanda. Rwanda and Mali lead the table in this group. Group L brought the biggest upset as Nigeria lost 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau. Álvaro Djalo, an Athletic Club striker, scored the goal that puts Nigeria in a precarious position. The top two teams from each of the twelve groups will qualify for the final tournament, which will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in June and July 2027.

What happens next

Morocco will now need to confirm their form in the upcoming qualifiers to secure a place in the 2027 Copa Africa. The next opponents will be crucial to maintain dominance in Group A. At the same time, despite the absence of Mohamed Salah, Egypt will try to consolidate its position in Group B and continue to fight for the top spot.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the game between Morocco and Lesotho?

Morocco won 2-0 against Lesotho, with Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi scoring the goals.

Who scored the goals for Morocco?

The goals for Morocco were scored by Brahim Díaz in the 44th minute and Azzedine Ounahi eight minutes before the end.

Why did Egypt play without Mohamed Salah?

Mohamed Salah was missing due to concerns about a possible injury on artificial turf.

What are the current standings in Group A?

Morocco leads Group A with 6 points after winning two games.

What changes were there in Group B of the Copa Africa?

Egypt moved to the top of Group B after a 0-0 draw against Angola and a 5-0 win over South Sudan.

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