FIFA International Friendly | Tuesday, 2 June 2026 Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco | Attendance: 50,000 | Referee: Boubou Traore
Ismael Saibari scored in the fourth minute. That was really the whole story right there.
Morocco were sharper, quicker, more clinical. Madagascar tried. They really did. But this was a mismatch from the opening moments and by half-time the Atlas Lions were already two goals up and in complete control. The final score — 4-0 — flattered nobody and surprised nobody.
Four days from now Morocco fly to the United States for the World Cup. They will go as genuine contenders. This performance, against opposition who were never going to trouble them, will not tell Mohamed Ouahbi everything he needs to know. But it told him enough.
The first goal came almost immediately. Bilal El Khannouss found Saibari in the channel and the PSV forward swept it first time into the bottom corner. Four minutes gone. Madagascar goalkeeper barely had time to settle. The home crowd at a packed Moulay Abdallah stadium — 50,000 inside — celebrated like it meant something more than it did.
The second was better. Twenty-fifth minute. Saibari again. He had been running Madagascar’s defence ragged with his movement and this time he drove at goal from the right side, cut inside and finished into the far corner. Two goals, 25 minutes, job done for the individual if not yet the team.
Morocco had the ball for most of the first half. Possession 70-30 at the break. Shot attempts 20 to 2 across the full game. Madagascar had one shot on target in 90 minutes. That tells you how the afternoon went.
The second half started and Ouahbi made his changes. Substitutions came in waves — the coach using the occasion to give minutes to fringe players and rest some of the starters ahead of the tournament. Madagascar made their own changes and in between all that activity the game lost some of its shape. There was a 30-minute spell after the break where not much happened. Madagascar defended in numbers. Morocco probed without urgency.
Then came the red card. El Hadary Raheriniaina picked up a straight red in the 79th minute for a foul — the nature of the challenge gave referee Boubou Traore no option. Ten men for the Barea in the final quarter of an hour. At 2-0 it made little difference to the outcome. Morocco had already made the game comfortable.
Soufiane Rahimi put the seal on it from the penalty spot in the 78th minute. The Qatari league forward — not always a first choice for Morocco but sharp whenever given the chance — stepped up and converted calmly. Three-nil.
Ayoub El Kaabi added the fourth in the 87th minute. The Atletico Madrid striker came on as a substitute and within minutes he had his goal — finishing from close range after good work on the right. El Kaabi has been one of the best strikers in the world over the past 18 months. He barely needed warming up.
This was Morocco’s last home friendly before the World Cup. They beat Burundi 5-0 before this — two warm-up wins, nine goals scored, none conceded. The defensive structure under Ouahbi looks solid. Nayef Aguerd and Jawad El Yamiq are the first-choice centre back pairing. Achraf Hakimi at right back is one of the best players in the world in his position. Noussair Mazraoui was part of the starting lineup here at left back and looked comfortable throughout.
At the World Cup, Morocco are in Group B alongside Brazil, Croatia and a playoff qualifier. Brazil without Neymar — confirmed injured and unavailable for the opener against Morocco — is a different proposition. There will be people around the world quietly putting Morocco as dark horses for the quarter-finals and beyond. They have been there before, reaching the semi-finals at Qatar 2022. This squad, older and wiser, knows the tournament does not get easier the further you go.
Madagascar leave Rabat without a goal and without much to show for the afternoon. Their consolation — if it can be called that — is what they achieved at the U17 AFCON just days ago, reaching the final of that tournament on home soil before losing to Senegal on penalties. The youth is coming. The senior side is not quite there yet against the continent’s best.
For Morocco, the World Cup starts now. Everything until Thursday was preparation.
For live international football scores and full World Cup coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full squads, fixtures and group tables are at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Morocco 4-0 Madagascar FIFA International Friendly | Tuesday, 2 June 2026 Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat | Attendance: 50,000 | Referee: Boubou Traore
Goals: Ismael Saibari 4′, 25′ | Soufiane Rahimi 78′ pen | Ayoub El Kaabi 87′ Red Card: El Hadary Raheriniaina 79′ (Madagascar)
Morocco (4-2-3-1): El Kajoui; Salah-Eddine, Halal, Diop, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Bouaddi; Ezzalzouli, El Khannouss, Amaimouni-Echghouyab; Saibari Subs used: Rahimi, El Kaabi, others
Stats: Possession Morocco 69.7% — Madagascar 30.3% | Shots on Goal 9-1 | Attempts 20-2 | Corners 12-1 | Saves 1-5 | Yellow Cards 2-2 | Half-time 2-0
