Nigeria, Sept. 6 -- Morocco underlined their status as Africa's pace-setters on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after crushing 10-man Niger 5-0 on Friday to storm into the global showpiece with two games to spare.

At the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, the Atlas Lions needed just six minutes to expose Niger's vulnerability after Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off early. Ismael Saibari seized the moment, striking twice before half-time, before Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi completed the demolition job in the second half.

Morocco's sixth straight victory in Group E, took them to an uncatchable 18 points, eight clear of Tanzania, booking a record-extending seventh World Cup appearance for the North African giant...