Brahim Diaz was on target as Morocco secured a 2-0 victory over Lesotho in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, helping the hosts strengthen their position at the top of Group A.
Morocco dominated possession from the opening whistle but had to work hard to turn their control into goals against a deeply defensive Lesotho side.
The North Africans enjoyed around 80 to 90 percent of possession for much of the match, with the majority of their passing taking place in the middle third as Lesotho defended in numbers.
The match was played in South Africa because Lesotho currently do not have a stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host the fixture. The unusual setting also contributed to a subdued atmosphere, with only a small number of Lesotho supporters creating much of the noise inside the largely empty stadium.
Brahim Diaz Makes the Difference
Diaz started on the right side of Morocco’s 4-2-3-1 formation but frequently moved into the right half-space.
Right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi pushed forward to provide width, allowing the Real Madrid midfielder to operate in more central areas and look for opportunities between the lines.
With Lesotho maintaining a compact defensive shape, space was at a premium and Diaz occasionally found himself crowded out. However, the Morocco international still showed his ability to escape tight situations with his close control and dribbling.
Most importantly, he provided the breakthrough when Morocco needed it.
Diaz Decisive Despite Difficult Conditions
Morocco had controlled the contest but struggled to find the finishing touch. The team managed only five shots on target, while Azzedine Ounahi and Ismael Saibari were among those who missed opportunities.
Diaz’s goal therefore proved particularly valuable, breaking Lesotho’s resistance and giving Morocco the advantage they needed.
The result was eventually secured in the 82nd minute when Ounahi found the net after Lesotho were forced to open up and leave more space at the back.
Diaz played 69 minutes before being replaced by Soufiane Rahimi. He completed 79 percent of his passes and also recorded one ball recovery.
It was not necessarily Diaz’s most polished performance. He misplaced some passes during transitions and surrendered possession 18 times, but his ability to produce a decisive moment ultimately made the difference.
Morocco Lead Group A
The victory keeps Morocco at the summit of Group A in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
While the performance may not have been spectacular, Morocco once again demonstrated their ability to control matches and collect important points, with Diaz’s contribution proving crucial against a stubborn Lesotho defence.
