Pre-World Cup Friendlies: Morocco Wins 4-0 Against Madagascar

RABAT – Morocco defeated Madagascar 4-0 on Tuesday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat in an international friendly as head coach Mohamed Ouahbi continued fine-tuning his squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Double goals from Ismail Saibari, a scored penalty by Soufiane Rahimi, and a fourth goal by Ayoub El Kaabi helped the Atlas Lions secure the result in front of their home supporters in what was one of the team’s final preparations before the global tournament.

Match details

Morocco started the match strongly and took the lead in the 3th minute when Ismail Saibari scored the first goal from an assist by Bilal Khannouss. 

Saibari didn’t lose the chance to add the second goal in the Barea net in the 25th minute.

The Atlas Lions continued to control possession in the second half of the match and created chances as Madagascar struggled to deal with Morocco’s attacking movement, without any counted goals.

A third goal was by Soufiane Rahimi in the second half of the clash from a penalty in the 78th minute.

The home side doubled their advantage in the 84th minute through Ayoub El Kaabi to reach a 4-0 result.

The substitutes 

After the break, Mohamed Ouahbi introduced several substitutions as he looked to assess different options before the World Cup. 

Ouahbi replaced Sabiri, who secured a quick-fire double in the first half, by Ayoub El Kaabi, the scorer of the fourth goal; Noussair Mazraoui by Youssef Belammari; Issa Diop by Marwane Saadane; Redouane Halhal by Chadi Riad; Anass Salah-Eddine by Ali Maamar; Ayyoub Bouaddi by Samir El Mourabit; Soufiane Amrabat by Ibrahim Diaz; Ayoub Amaimouni by Gessime Yassine; Bilal EL khannous by Azzedine Ounahi; and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli by Soufiane Rahim, the signer of the third goal.

Match statistics

According to Sofascore statistics, Morocco enjoyed 70% possession compared to Madagascar’s 30%. The Atlas Lions registered 4 shots, while Madagascar had no shots.

The performance will give Ouahbi valuable information ahead of the World Cup, particularly after announcing his final squad for the tournament. The Moroccan coach used the friendly to evaluate tactical combinations, physical condition, and the chemistry between players before the team’s departure to North America.

Morocco entered the match on the back of a convincing 5-0 victory over Burundi, a result that boosted confidence within the squad and allowed the coaching staff to test several attacking options. Against Madagascar, the focus was once again on maintaining rhythm, improving defensive organization, and sharpening the team’s attacking efficiency.

Next match

The Atlas Lions next friendly will be against Norway on Sunday, June 7, 2026. The match will serve as a final World Cup warm-up for both squads and is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM local time at the Sports Illustrated Stadium (Red Bull Arena) in Harrison, New Jersey 

Morocco is expected to face stronger teams at the World Cup, where they will look to build on the country’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Expectations remain high among supporters, with Morocco no longer viewed as a surprise contender but as a team capable of competing with football’s top teams.

A glimpse on Saibari 

Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari enjoyed an outstanding 2025-26 season with PSV Eindhoven, establishing himself as one of the top players in the Dutch league. 

Saibari scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in the Eredivisie, making him one of the competition’s most productive midfielders. 

He finished as PSV’s top scorer in the league and played a key role in the club’s title-winning campaign. His 15 goals also placed him third in the Eredivisie scoring charts.

Among the remarkable events of his season was a memorable hat-trick in a crucial 3-2 victory over Feyenoord. 

Saibari also contributed important goals and strong performances in the UEFA Champions League, further enhancing his reputation across Europe. His impressive displays earned widespread recognition, with many observers considering him one of the Eredivisie’s standout performers of the season.