The Morocco national team, one of the pre-tournament favorites, sealed their place in the FIFA Arab Cup final with a commanding 3–0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Monday at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

The semifinal opened as a tightly contested affair, with the UAE showing defensive solidity and handling Morocco’s early pressure well. However, the deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Karim El Berkaoui timed his run perfectly to meet a superb cross from Hamza El Moussaoui on the left, heading home at the far post to give Morocco a 1–0 lead.

The goal lifted the Atlas Lions, who came close to doubling their advantage shortly afterward. Central defender Soufiane Bouftini nearly made it 2–0 in the 35th minute, narrowly missing the target with a powerful header.

After the break, the United Arab Emirates started strongly, pushing numbers forward and testing Moroccan goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid, who produced two excellent saves early in the second half. The UAE came agonizingly close to equalizing in the 52nd minute, when Bruno’s header from a corner kick crashed off the crossbar.

Despite the pressure, Morocco remained composed and defensively disciplined, gradually regaining control of the match. With the UAE committing bodies forward in search of an equalizer, Achraf El Mahdioui capitalized on a swift counterattack in the 84th minute to make it 2–0.

Deep into stoppage time, veteran striker Abderrazak Hamdallah put the result beyond doubt, finishing a well-worked move from the right flank to score the third goal and officially book Morocco’s place in the FIFA Arab Cup final.

Morocco will now await the winner of the other semifinal, featuring Saudi Arabia vs Jordan, as the Atlas Lions move one step closer to lifting the FIFA Arab Cup trophy in Qatar.

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