Full Time: Morocco 5-0 Burundi
Morocco crushed Burundi 5-0 in Salé on Tuesday, giving head coach H. Regragui another positive data point as he prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The Atlas Lions dominated for an hour before Ayoub El Kaabi broke the deadlock in the 59th minute and quickly doubled the lead four minutes later. Tawfik Bentayeb added the third in the 71st minute, and Soufiane Benjdida struck in the 80th and again in the 90th to complete the rout. Each goal underlined the gulf between the sides and further demoralised M. Manirakiza’s team.
Regragui kept operations behind closed doors at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, maintaining the secrecy that has marked this camp. Match data listed no official formation for either side, reflecting the decision to conceal tactical details while cycling through combinations. Even with a compressed schedule, Morocco still accelerated through the last half hour once the frontline began attacking the gaps with conviction.
Tactical Snapshot
Regragui demanded a patient press and Morocco executed it. They set the trap high, pinning Burundi in their defensive third until fatigue produced the breakthrough. Once El Kaabi finally beat the block in the 59th minute, the tempo spiked. Morocco’s wide players stretched the pitch, Burundi’s back line narrowed, and the channels opened. Without any structural adjustment from the visitors, the hosts recycled possession, dragged markers out, and kept runners between the lines. Benjdida’s late brace confirmed that the rotating nine keeps finishing chances even when the starters sit.
Manirakiza’s plan relied on surviving wave after wave and countering into space, but with no platform from midfield the visitors never assembled meaningful sequences. Every clearance came straight back. The lack of an outlet meant Morocco could keep restart routines short, leave centre-backs on the halfway line, and smother the second phase. It was controlled sparring that turned into a rout once the first goal arrived.
Key Figures
El Kaabi’s two quick strikes broke stubborn resistance and reaffirmed his status as Regragui’s most trusted finisher. Bentayeb’s goal in the 71st minute underlined the depth in midfield, his late run into the box rewarded immediately. Benjdida’s double in the 80th and 90th minutes sent a message to the coaching staff that there is a reliable alternative should injuries hit. Discipline mattered too: no cards were issued as Morocco dominated the duels and Burundi rarely disrupted play.
Numbers
- Final score: Morocco 5-0 Burundi
- Goals: Ayoub El Kaabi scored in the 59th and 63rd minutes; Tawfik Bentayeb in the 71st; Soufiane Benjdida in the 80th and 90th
- Venue: Mohammed VI Football Academy, Salé
- Match type: Friendly international played behind closed doors
Outlook
Regragui will push this group through another closed session before naming his next squad. The staff want confirmation that the same structure can translate into competitive fixtures, and a new batch of internal friendlies is already pencilled in. Burundi head home searching for rhythm ahead of their next qualifying window, likely tightening selection around experienced heads. For more on the international programme, keep an eye on Nigeria vs Zimbabwe, a result that shares this window and shapes the regional picture.
