Morocco on the brink of more history

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is looking to make history in their final 2026 World Cup qualifier against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on 14 October.

Kick-off is at 9pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

CURRENT FORM:

The Atlas Lions have already qualified for the global showpiece after winning their opening seven matches in Group E and they remain the only team with a 100 per cent record in Africa.

But Regragui's side are on the brink of another milestone after beating Bahrain 1-0 in a friendly on 9 October, which saw them equal a record held by Spain and Germany.

The 2022 World Cup semifinalists have now won 15 games in a row since playing out to a 0-0 draw with Mauritania in a friendly on 26 March 2024 - matching La Roja's winning streak from 2008 to 2009.

Morocco are also the third-highest scorers in qualifying, although their 21 goals have come from just seven outings, while Burkina Faso (23), Ghana (23), Ivory Coast (22) and Algeria (22) needed more games to reach their respective tallies.

The Red Devils have endured a nightmare campaign partly due to government interference which led to their suspension on 6 February 2025 before it was lifted by FIFA three months later.

But their cause wasn't helped after Fabrizio Cesana's side refused to play a qualifier in neighbouring DR Congo on 6 June 2024 and NIger were awarded a 3-0 victory.

The same outcome occurred against Tanzania and Zambia this year, leaving Congo's hopes in tatters and a 3-1 defeat to the Menas on 8 October meant they had picked up just one point in seven matches.

WHAT WAS SAID:

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui

"Today we share a world record with Germany and Spain, two great footballing nations. As Moroccans, we can be proud to stand alongside them in history.

"Our challenge now is on Tuesday, to become the only team in the world to have won 16 matches in a row. And that's never easy, even if it might seem so."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Morocco - Ayoub El Kaabi has spearheaded the Atlas Lions' push for qualification, bagging four goals in five games, including a hat-trick in the 6-0 rout of Congo on 11 June 2024. The 32-year-old striker, who sat out the wins over Niger and Tanzania in March with an injury, is the only player in Group E to have scored three goals in a single match.

Congo - Deo Bassinga was recalled to the squad last month after a two-year absence and he went straight into the team for the 1-1 draw with Tanzania, playing the full 90 minutes. The 20-year-old striker was asked to lead the line once more against Niger and he repaid Cesana's faith in him by scoring the Red Devils' solitary goal - one of just four managed by the entire squad.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: (Last Five Matches)

Matches - 5

Morocco wins - 4

Congo wins - 0

Draws - 1