Morocco easily defeat Central African Republic, 5-0 during the final third-round qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
With two goals from Azzedine Ounahi and one apiece from Abde Ezzalzouli, Achraf Hakimi, and Soufiane Rahimi, the game, played at Oujda, demonstrated Morocco’s supremacy. Morocco easily defeated a team rated 114 places below, taking a 4-0 lead at the break.
In the final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations third-round qualifiers, Guinea defeated Ethiopia 4-1 on Saturday, led by a hat-trick by Serhou Guirassy, and Morocco crushed Central African Republic 5-0. Morocco, who were leading 4-0 at the interval, easily defeated Achraf Hakimi, Soufiane Rahimi, and Abde Ezzalzouli in an easy victory in Oujda.
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice. The results of Group B were expected, with the Central African Republic and top-ranked African nation Morocco separated by 114 spots, the most difference between any of the 24 third-round pairings.
A day earlier, at Gqeberha, South Africa had set the record with a five-goal thrashing of Congo Brazzaville, setting the record. Morocco then tied that record in the 2025 qualifying round.
For the first time, the AFCON will take place across two years, starting on December 21, 2025, and ending on January 18, 2026. Morocco qualified automatically to serve as the tournament’s hosts.
However, Morocco (nine points) chose to conduct competitive match practice rather than play friendlies, forcing Gabon (four), Central African Republic (three), and Lesotho (one) to contend for a single spot.
The 65-year-old French coach Michel Dussuyer started his fourth stint in charge of Guinea, but Guirassy’s power and pace proved too much for Ethiopia to handle in Group H.
Guirassy, who was born in France to Guinean parents, opened the score in Abidjan in the 18th minute with a penalty kick that sent goalkeeper Seid Habtamu the wrong way.
After 37 minutes and in first half added time, respectively, the Borussia Dortmund forward scored his next two goals, outpacing opponents and curling close-range strikes into the right corner of the net.
Guirassy became the equal top scorer with Algerian Amine Gouiri, Egyptian Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, and Ivorian Jean-Philippe Krasso after scoring the first hat-trick in 2025 qualifying.
Early in the second half, Seydouba Cisse, who had set up Guirassy’s second goal, scored thanks to a Mady Camara assist.
Guinea scored four goals in less than 48 minutes after scoring just one goal in 180 minutes during their defeats by Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo last month.
Ethiopia, who failed to score in their first two encounters, eventually pierced the Guinea defence on 53 minutes with Kenean Markneh scoring.
DR Congo top the table with nine points, and share flawless records halfway through qualification with Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Morocco.
Tanzania have four points and Guinea three, and their November meeting will probably decide who finishes runners-up and accompanies likely table-toppers DR Congo to Morocco.
Matchday 4 kicks off on Sunday with a solitary fixture, between Burundi and Burkina Faso. There are eight matches the following day and 15 on Tuesday.
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