Morocco Send Strong World Cup Warning With 5-0 Demolition of Burundi

By Angu Lesley

Football Writer,kic442.com-Cameroon

Morocco continued to underline their status as one of Africa’s biggest hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after cruising to an emphatic 5-0 victory over Burundi in an international friendly on Tuesday.

The Atlas Lions produced a dominant second-half display, with Ayoub El Kaabi netting a quick-fire brace in the 59th and 63rd minutes before Taha Bentayeb added a third in the 71st minute. Late goals from Salaheddine Benjdida in the 80th and 90th minutes completed the rout.

The convincing victory comes as Morocco intensify preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament where expectations are once again sky-high following the nation’s historic exploits in Qatar four years ago.

Under former coach Walid Regragui, Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final during the 2022 edition in Qatar. The Atlas Lions stunned the football world by eliminating Belgium in the group stage before knocking out Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds on their way to the last four.

That remarkable generation has largely remained together, with several key players still forming the backbone of the current squad ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Morocco were also among the first African nations to open their pre-World Cup training camp, although several major stars are yet to join the group due to club commitments in Europe. Captain Achraf Hakimi is still involved in preparations for the UEFA Champions League final, while stars such as Brahim Díaz and other Europe-based internationals are expected to join camp in the coming days.

A new era has also begun for the Atlas Lions following the departure of Regragui earlier this year. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation appointed Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach ahead of the World Cup.

Ouahbi arrives with a growing reputation after guiding Morocco’s Under-20 side to the FIFA U-20 World Cup title in 2025, defeating Argentina in the final only months before taking charge of the senior national team.

The Atlas Lions head into the 2026 World Cup drawn in Group C alongside football giants Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.

Despite the coaching transition, optimism remains extremely high around the Moroccan camp. The team recently reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil and continue to be viewed as one of the continent’s strongest representatives heading into the global tournament.

Tuesday’s dominant display against Burundi offered another glimpse of Morocco’s attacking quality and squad depth — and a reminder that the Atlas Lions could once again be one of the stories of the World Cup.