JOHANNESBURG, Sept 6, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Morocco trounced 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E and become the first African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Ismael Saibari scored twice in the first half after Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off and second-half goals from Ayoub el Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi completed the rout.

A sixth straight victory lifted Morocco to an unassailable lead with 18 points, and sealed a seventh appearance at the global showpiece with two matches to spare.

Morocco were shock semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Atlas Lions topped a group including Croatia and Belgium and eliminated Spain and Portugal in the knockout stage.

The stunning run came to an end in the semi-finals as they lost 2-0 to France. Morocco finished fourth after losing a play-off against Croatia.

Only Ounahi of the scorers against Niger was in the 2022 World Cup squad with coach Walid Regragui introducing many new faces since, including Saibari from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

In Group A, Egypt beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Cairo with Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush converting late first-half penalties.

Egypt can join Morocco at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico if they win away to second-placed Burkina Faso on Tuesday.