Atlas Lions Held Back by Resilient Lesotho in Goalless First Half
Agadir, Morocco – The first half of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Morocco and Lesotho ended in a surprising 0-0 draw, with the Atlas Lions struggling to break down a determined Lesotho defense.
Despite dominating possession and playing with attacking intent, Morocco found it difficult to convert their chances in front of a passionate home crowd at the Adrar Stadium. Lesotho, ranked 154th in the world by FIFA, defended resolutely and frustrated the Moroccan attack, who were unable to find a way through their organized lines.
Key attacking threats like Achraf Hakimi and Ayoub El Kaabi were kept relatively quiet, highlighting the effectiveness of Lesotho’s defensive game plan. This result comes as a surprise to many, as Morocco, ranked 14th in the world and fresh off their historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup, were heavily favored to win this match.
The second half promises to be a tense affair, with Morocco needing to find a way to break down the Lesotho defense if they want to secure a crucial three points in their quest for AFCON qualification.
