Preview: Morocco vs Niger – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Morocco will set out to protect the only 100% record left in the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers when they renew hostilities with Niger at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah on Friday night.

A 2-1 victory in the most recent edition of this fixture saw the hosts come out on top for the fifth time in as many meetings, and the visitors will be aiming to turn the tide with the unlikeliest of wins in Rabat.

Match preview

Becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, Morocco made history in the most recent edition of football’s biggest event, so many would have expected them to feature at the newly expanded tournament next year.

A 2-0 win over Tanzania in November 2023 set Walid Regragui‘s men on their way, and they have since swept all before them to sit six points clear at the top of Group E midway through the qualifying campaign.

With 14 goals scored and only two conceded, the Atlas Lions’ goal difference of +12 is the second-highest of any team behind Cote d’Ivoire (14), highlighting their solidity at both ends of the pitch.

Morocco have come out on top in five straight matches heading into their upcoming assignment, where the North Africans will seek to take one step closer towards a third consecutive World Cup berth for the first time and a seventh overall.

Unbeaten in competitive matches on home turf since 2019, Friday’s hosts have been near-impossible to topple in front of their fans, and it is hard to see them coming away with anything less than all three points here.

Since losing 2-1 to their next opponents in March, Niger are back on World Cup qualifying duty and remain firmly in the hunt for second place in the group.

Badou Zaki‘s men have picked up six points from four matches so far, courtesy of wins over Zambia and Congo Republic, sandwiched in between defeats against Tanzania and Morocco.

The aforementioned win against Congo was secured with a helping hand, as Congo’s reluctance to travel for the game resulted in Niger being awarded a 3-0 triumph.

Since then, the Dama gazelle have failed to win any of their last five matches and are without a goal in each of the most recent four, a damning statistic as they prepare to take on a defensively solid opposing outfit.

Friday’s visitors also boast just one win on the road over the last 12 months, although it did come in arguably their toughest away assignment against Ghana last November, where Oumar Sako netted a 92nd-minute winner before Mahamadou Djibo denied Mohammed Kudus from the spot moments later.

Morocco World Cup Qualifying – Africa form:

Morocco form (all competitions):

Niger World Cup Qualifying – Africa form:

Niger form (all competitions):

Team News

After netting twice in his last outing for Fenerbahce, Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri will head into Friday’s in high spirits.

Despite having had a disjointed start to the season amid the speculation around his future, Bilal El Khannous has been called up by the hosts.

Thirty-two-year-old Ayoub El Kaabi found the back of the net in both of his side’s last two outings back in June and will set out to extend his scoring streak.

Boureima Katakore is on course to record his 65th cap, which would put him just two behind Koffi Dan Kowa in second place on the Niger all-time appearances chart.

Victorien Adebayor‘s penalty against Zimbabwe back in June saw him become the first player in his nation’s history to hit 20 international goals, making the 28-year-old one to keep an eye on.

Morocco possible starting lineup:

Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, El Yamiq, El Karouani; Amrabat, Ounahi, Saibari, Diaz; El Kaabi, En-Nesyri

Niger possible starting lineup:

Tanja; Sako, Abdourahamane, Bonkano, Yacouba; Oumarou, Badamassi, Sabo; Sosah, Adebayor, Goumey

We say: Morocco 3-0 Niger

Morocco are performing at a high level at the moment and are favourites to run out emphatic winners.

We are strongly backing the hosts to make light work of their visitors and stroll to a routine victory.

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