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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, everything is ready to start this match.
00:05Morocco set to host the tournament next year. This journey is especially significant for
00:14the Atlas Lions and their fans. Tonight's matchup holds crucial stakes in both teams.
00:22They are in the group B on the road to Morocco 2025. Let's go with the starting 11.
00:30That Morocco is sending to the pitch today will just seem Bono between the poles.
00:48All of them coached by Valid Rigraghi.
00:51Morocco currently leading the group B with a perfect record. Two wins in two matches
01:03and only one goal conceded. Meanwhile, the Central African Republic sets in third place
01:10with one win and one loss. Showing promise but needing greater consistency. Gavan is currently
01:18second while Lesotho rounds out the grouping fourth. Making every point crucial in the fight
01:28for qualification. Morocco known as the Atlas Lions has a distinguished football legacy with
01:37their first afghan dating back to 1976 and a historic world cup performance in 2022 where
01:48they became the first African team to reach the semi-finals in history. Ladies and gentlemen,
01:55let's go with the Central African Republic.
02:08Koyalipo, Mafuta and Namganda. Those are the 11 men today coach.
02:18They are often underway in which step for this game
02:22in group B between Morocco and Central African Republic.
02:27And this is the sixth meeting between the sides and the first in four years. They met in qualifying
02:39for the 2021 Nations Cup. Both games took place in November 2020. Morocco winning. By the way, well
02:48he had some heart issues and has had a heart procedure which meant he came off
02:54in Manchester United's game against Aston Villa last weekend because he felt unwell
03:01and he's had what has been described by club officials as a minor corrective procedure
03:05after complaining of palpitations. But according to Raleed Reguagi
03:12nice turn, nice play from Safian Rahimi. Safian Rahimi is still going forward and has he done
03:19enough?
03:36Ball into the area. Ben Seguir can strike and does strike but he can't
03:40keep it on target either. Two goals and two assists. Ben Seguir in his seven league appearances so far.
03:47Hakimi into the middle. Opportunity for Al-Khabi. An opportunity here for Rahimi. Super stop
03:54and into the back of the net it goes from Ezal Zouli who finally scores his first Moroccan goal
04:01in the 18th attempt. And it was a good stop from the CAR goalkeeper Dominic Youfegan
04:09to deny the initial effort but he couldn't stop the follow-up from Ezal Zouli.
04:17And just over two years on from his debut, young star of Moroccan football
04:28has the satisfaction of driving into the back of the net.
04:35Rahimi just waiting, pounced.
04:37Al-Khabi did enough, did well to set it up to Rahimi. The benefit of two strikers and look as they
04:50instantly tried to play each other in. And look at the smile on the face of Yousef Belhamari as well.
04:57Rufo, shake of the head from Raoul Saboy because he knows what it means for his side to go behind.
05:04That said, they do have goals in them.
05:12And he's got a really interesting job with Garagli at the moment. He's
05:16spoiled for choices as well and he really is using these qualifying
05:21matches as perfect testing ground to marry some of the young stars coming through Moroccan football
05:28with some of the more established ones. Al-Khabi is one of those.
05:30And there are a few players from the Olympic side on the pitch tonight. Not least of all this man,
05:40Hakimi, captain of the side, despite it being his off-season, was desperate to play
05:47for his home nation in the Olympics. They're in behind here, C.A.R. Charged a goal from Mufuta
05:52and Mufuta can only hit it straight. That Muneer who is instantly called into action.
05:58Finally, either Rahimi or Al-Khabi again, cut out by Ndobe there.
06:05And Harkas, he's doing really well on his first start.
06:09So to Belhamari, Ezalzouli into Elias Benseguir. Let's see what he's got.
06:17Very confident winger.
06:18Unahi. Unahi bends it and finds the top right-hand corner of the net in delicious style.
06:28Composed, calm and clinical as well.
06:38He scored in June's World Cup qualifying, thumping up Congo 6-0. It ended then.
06:45Grabbed a goal at the Nations Cup as well for good measure against Tanzania.
06:56Supremely confident.
07:01This strike knew exactly where he wanted to put it and executed it to perfection as well.
07:08Delightful strike from Azzedine Unahi.
07:12It was the crucial moment as he just managed to skip away.
07:18Benseguir. Keeper. Unsighted as you can see.
07:23But I'm not sure he's going to be able to do too much about it. If not, it's going to be a
07:29Keeper. Unsighted as you can see. But I'm not sure he's going to be able to do too much about it.
07:35If not, Unahi has it. All his fine play. Kondogbia. Searching forward.
07:47Namganda. He's got Mafuto in the middle. Just couldn't find the two red shirts in the way.
07:53Still calm Namganda. Still he's going to try and get on it. But that's good strength from Ezalzouli.
07:59And he's just charging forward. Reached the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting
08:04in 2010. Ceyar coming forward. Swung in and not enough on it from Koyalipu.
08:19The Moroccan back line has been really tested.
08:23Despite the attacking line-up fielded by the visitors. Benseguir.
08:36Unahi will just touch this into Amrabat. It will float it over for Hakimi. Nice touch inside.
08:45Unahi. One-two. That's lovely stuff. Oh, it's a brilliant sumptuous third for Morocco.
08:52Lovely weighted passes and touches and free-flowing one-touch football.
09:00Crowned by a curling strike into the bottom corner of the goal by the Moroccan skipper.
09:09And Hakimi. That's his first goal since the Nations Cup.
09:16Unahi on his 10th for his country in his 80th appearance. And just look at the way
09:24they pinged it around. Unahi into Amrabat. That was a lovely pass out to him. And then the crucial
09:29touch here got him inside. Then it was game on. Unahi. Look at that lovely little setup.
09:36Just to tee up Hakimi. Almost like a training ground exercise. Kepkan.
09:45Look at the touch. Read superbly well. And next to no chance at all for Youfegan.
09:54And the CAR goal. New Orleans capped a half where I'd wager that with real quality and real danger.
10:05And they keep on coming forward and that's the great thing about them.
10:08Watch if you're a neutral. Certainly not if you're playing against them.
10:12It's going to be an attacking attempt.
10:16It's a delight to see. Here comes Rahimi. This could be getting embarrassing at some point
10:23for CAR because Morocco just don't know when to stop. Here's Ezzalzouli. Chance to make it four.
10:30Unahi does exactly that. Crushing it in off the underside of the crossbar.
10:36And two goals in as many minutes puts a real gloss on this scoreline.
10:41And it's not even halftime. Unahi with his second and selfishly teed up.
10:51By Ezzal. Right now CAR simply do not know how to deal with the constantly onrushing Atlas Lions.
10:59Atlas Lions. Onside he was Ezzalzouli. And he just about guided it in. Unahi calling for it.
11:09Knew where he wanted to put it. There might have been a little bit of a worry as he saw it rising.
11:17But joy when it crashed down off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.
11:29Oh they are very much enjoying themselves.
11:34And performances like this. Even if they are against a side that has never reached the nation's
11:41cup. Swings it into the middle. Al-Khabi. Rahimi. What if they had scored four in the first half?
11:48You'd have thought that their names would be on the score sheet. It's not been that way.
11:52And it's halftime. And Morocco is putting on a stunning display.
11:57Leading the Central African Republic 4-0. Ezzalzouli opened the scoring. Followed by
12:04Unahi's strike. Then Hakimi added a third. And Unahi capped it off with his second goal.
12:11Let's go to a break. We're coming back.
12:22And the other substitute Dora Pite. Also based in Africa when it comes to his
12:42club football. Playing with Otoho in Congo.
12:52Hakimi cannot get onto that. Into the middle it goes from the man who's just come on.
13:00As you might expect from Unahi. He ran into blue traffic. Amrabat now wins it back.
13:08That's exactly what he's there to do. Ben Segeer. Still Ben Segeer. And then a crunching tackle
13:15comes in. Stops him as he was just getting into full flight. Ezzalzouli.
13:22Turned so nicely with his first touch to instantly try and go forward to the second.
13:27While Mafuta had gone miles offside. But not this man. And he's driving forward.
13:34Maganda finds Mafuta. The whistles come out. Mafuta still has it.
13:41Kondogbia now. The Marseille man. Formerly of Atletico Madrid.
13:45Dribbling. Twisting onto his left foot he goes. Kondogbia trying all the way.
13:50Will this go in? It won't. Because that's really smart. Goalkeeper Aibu by Muneer.
13:55Social media. Just eyeballs coming from the likes of Russia, Brazil. Places you
14:01may not always expect. Ben Segeer. A little bit of space for him.
14:05But that's really good defensive play by Yambere. And now Mafuta will charge forward. Here is Mafuta.
14:13Well there was a handball in there somewhere. And then Mafuta got a foot on it. And just for
14:18a moment it looked like it might open up. But interesting to see just how many numbers they
14:25pushed up. And they're still going forward. CAR. And they certainly believe they can find goals
14:29here. They are a very attacking team. Like their opponents. It's a bit loose from Namganda.
14:36And he's. They've done well to hold on to this. Yang Gao.
14:42Hakimi. Endaziri. Charging forward. Doesn't find that big tall striker. As Al-Zhouli might do so.
14:52Lovely switch of play from Inahi. Onto his right foot he goes. As Al-Zhouli. He's clipped. And he's
14:57won a penalty. And Morocco have the chance to score a fifth. And he's scored one. And he's made
15:06And he's made one. As Al-Zhouli. And he might well have made a second as well.
15:13An apologism from Carl Namganda.
15:19And a not too tricky decision for the Gambian referee. And he. Jeffrey Kondogbia.
15:31Very little hesitation whatsoever.
15:36And not the smartest of challenges from Namganda.
15:47Marziyesh took two penalties on match day one for Morocco.
15:52It's pretty content. Rahimi scored four penalties for Morocco at the Olympic Games.
16:09Looking to improve his goal tally.
16:15For Morocco.
16:16Soufiane Rahimi to make it five for the Atlas Lions. And he certainly does.
16:27Sending Youfegan the wrong way from the spot. And netting his third goal.
16:35In Moroccan colours for the Atlas Lions.
16:38Big smile. And it just looked never in doubt. Finding the bottom corner. Good penalty.
16:47Low and hard and into the corner.
16:54And Rahimi has his fifth. Oh sorry. He has Morocco's fifth of the night.
17:01And it's been a long old night for that man.
17:17And the fans enjoyed it as well. Clear five on the hand of one supporter.
17:21For the Barca B team. And then eventually got into the first team.
17:25He's wearing number 11 for Morocco. Akamatch.
17:28And he actually made two appearances for Barcelona.
17:31The first in none other than Xavi's first game as coach.
17:36Which was back in 2021. Here he is.
17:42But he made the move to Villarreal after Barca let him go.
17:46But still that's quite some education in the football world.
17:50Just 20 years of age. Akamatch another.
17:52Just 20 years of age. Akamatch another.
17:56We will well be talking about in the years to come.
18:01Belamari for now.
18:05Nicely into the middle looking for Nnaziri. Well cut out.
18:16Akamatch. Onto his left foot. Just cannon straight into.
18:20And it has been a mismatch in terms of abilities.
18:32He certainly can't fault CAL's desire and work rate.
18:39But they have come up against a very good footballing side.
18:42Nnaziri was certainly made clear in that second half of the first half.
18:49And the Atlas Lions play some wonderful football.
18:55Oh, yet another step in that preparation to next year's tournament.
19:04Which will be played 30 months after the final qualifier.
19:08Which will be played 30 months after the final qualifiers.
19:14So it'll be very interesting to see how that matches up with what happens at the
19:18final tournament with those who make it through. Nice ball through to Rahimi but he's straight offside.
19:24And now Akamatch. Atos Andanga still scrapping away even though the time is up.
19:31And the referee from the Gambia does finally bring this game to an end.
19:35A very comfortable home victory. And it's full-time. Full-time here in Morocco.
19:45Has delivered an absolute master class. Defeating the Central African Republic
19:53with a commanding 5-0 victory. The Atlas Lions took control early on
20:02and never lost it. What a great victory. With this win, they keep on beating.
20:12And of course, they are atop the table in the group B in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
20:20So ladies and gentlemen, what a great game by the hosts.
20:28They took control early on starting with the goal from Essel Souli.
20:35I hear some of the full-time stats. The possession almost 75% only to be
20:445-0 for Central African Republic. Total shots 15 against 9 but only one shot.