Preview: Morocco vs. Lesotho – prediction, team news, lineups

Morocco will strive to maintain their 100% record by 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifications when they welcome Lesotho to the Honneur Stadium on Monday in the last round of matches.

The home side claimed a narrow 1-0 triumph in their only previous meeting against the visitors back in September and are heavy favorites to complete a double in Oujda.

Match preview

© Imago

Despite being guaranteed an automatic place in AFCON in 2025 due to their status as host nation, Morocco are taking part in the qualifiers for secondary reasons but have shown no signs of taking things lightly.

Walid Regragui‘s men made an early statement of intent with a 4-1 thrashing of Gabon in their opening game, before picking up wins over Lesotho and Central African Republic (two) by an aggregate score of 10-0.

The Atlas Lions finally saw their run of games without conceding come to an end last time out against Gabon, where they went behind to Denis Bouanga‘s opener before storming to a 5-1 triumph led by heroics Brahim Diaz.

Although largely irrelevant, Morocco are clear at the top of Group B, eight points ahead of second-placed Gabon and a further three ahead of Lesotho ahead of Monday’s meeting between the teams.

Monday’s hosts are the only team still with a perfect record in qualifying after five games and now have the opportunity to collect their highest points in an AFCON qualifying campaign since 2017 (16).

© Imago

Looking for a first ever appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, Lesotho could not have asked for a worse start to their qualifying journey after consecutive defeats to the Central African Republic and Morocco to kick things off.

Leslie Notsi‘s men finally got on the board with a goalless share of the spoils against Gabon in their third outing on 11 October, before suffering a 2-0 defeat to the same opponents four days later.

In the last chance to keep their AFCON ambitions alive, Likuena took to the Toyota Stadium to face CAR on Thursday afternoon and claimed a much-needed 1-0 win in Bloemfontein.

Lesotho still have a chance to secure second place in Group B but will also need results elsewhere to go their way even if they manage to beat Morocco, who are unbeaten since losing to South Africa in January.

Nevertheless, all Monday’s visitors can do is take care of things on their end, although their away record does not make for good reading with just two wins in nine games in enemy territory since the turn of the year.

Morocco Africa Cup of Nations qualification format:

Morocco form (all competitions):

Lesotho Africa Cup of Nations qualification form:

Lesotho form (all competitions):

Keep news

© Imago

In just his third game for Morocco, Jamal Harkass scored his first goal against Gabon to kick-start an emphatic comeback and maintain his winning run on the international stage.

Ismael Saibari recorded a goal and an assist apiece in just 10 minutes as a substitute last time out, and that could see him rewarded with a place in the starting XI.

Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri is now up to 22 goals for the home team, only behind Ayoub El Kaabi (26) and Hakim Ziyech (25) among all active players.

Returning to the lineup for Lesotho against CAR, Neo Mokhachane came up with the all-important winning goal to bring his tally of international goals to three.

Arguably his nation’s best player throughout the AFCON qualifying campaign, goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane will have to put another inspired screen on between the pins here.

Morocco’s possible starting line-up:
Bono; Mazraoui, Aguerd, Harkass, Hakimi; Amrabat, Ounahi; Saibari, Ben Seghir, Diaz; En-Nesyri

Lesotho possible starting lineup:
Moerane; Matsau, Makhele, Mokokoana, Matlabe; Lebokollane, Fothoane, Matsoele; Letsema, Motebang, Mokhachane

We say: Morocco 3-0 Lesotho

Morocco have been impressive at both ends of the pitch and it’s hard to imagine anything but a win for them in this one.

We fully expect the home side to cruise to a routine victory when all is said and done.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

Previews via email