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Morocco twice overcame the shock of conceding to Haiti to win a World Cup thriller 4-2 in Atlanta on Wednesday, but missed out on top spot in Group C to Brazil.Haiti bowed out with their first World Cup goals for 52 years as a Yassine Bounou own goal and Wilson Isidor’s stunning strike twice gave them the lead.Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, with his third goal in as many games at the World Cup, levelled before half-time.Soufiane Rahimi was nearly brought to tears when the 30-year-old's deflected effort found the top corner to give Morocco the lead before Gessime Yassine rounded off the scoring.But by finishing second to Brazil on goal difference, Morocco will head to Monterrey for a likely meeting against the Netherlands or Japan in the last 32 on Monday.Despite bowing out without a point, Haiti's performances at a first World Cup since 1974 have done a nation gripped by poverty proud.Les Grenadiers were already eliminated after losing to Scotland and Brazil, but the thousands of Haitian expats in the stands at Atlanta were undeterred as every attack was met with deafening cheers."Today we scored two goals, we are really proud of it, the emotions were big, but it is still really frustrating because we didn't get a point," said Sunderland striker Isidor."With the generation we have I am confident we are going to be here again to win Haiti's first point in a World Cup."Haiti's long wait for a goal on the global stage was ended after just 10 minutes when Jean-Kevin Duverne got to the by-line and Lenny Joseph flicked his cross into the net via a deflection off Bounou.Hakimi has continued to captain Morocco despite learning mid-tournament that he is to face a trial on rape charges in France.But the reigning African footballer of the year said he was still in a good place "personally and professionally" after helping Paris Saint-Germain to a second consecutive Champions League title and his country into the knockout stages of the World Cup."I am in a very good moment, personally and professionally," said Hakimi, who won man-of-the-match."I feel very good, I have good people around me that help me concentrate on the most important thing and the truth is it is one of the most important moments of my career. I hope to continue like this for as long as possible."Hakimi equalised when he was left with the simple task of forcing the ball over the line after Johny Placide could only parry Bilal El Khannouss' strike.Within four minutes, though, Haiti had restored their lead in far more spectacular fashion.Isidor pounced on a loose ball and let fly from outside the area with a shot that arrowed into the top corner.Hakimi and coach Mohamed Ouahbi were visibly angered by conceding for a second time, but the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists responded before half-time.Saibari stroked home his third goal of the tournament with a cool finish from Hakimi's low cross.With Brazil cruising to victory over Scotland in Miami, Morocco knew only a comprehensive victory would secure them top spot in Group C.Ouahbi began turning his attention to the last 32 as Bayern Munich-bound Saibari and Real Madrid's Diaz were replaced with over 20 minutes remaining.But two of his substitutes came on to win the game for Morocco. Rahimi's powerful strike from a corner flew into the top corner via a deflection off a desperate Haiti defender.He then turned provider by robbing possession on the Haiti by-line and crossing for Yassine to roll into an empty net. 

Morocco trounced 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E and become the first African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Ismael Saibari scored twice in the first half after Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off and second-half goals from Ayoub el Kaabi, Hamza Igamane and Azzedine Ounahi completed the rout.A sixth straight victory lifted Morocco to an unassailable lead with 18 points – eight more than Tanzania and sealed a seventh appearance at the global showpiece with two matches to spare. Morocco were shock semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, topping a group including Croatia and Belgium and eliminating Spain and Portugal in the knockout phase. The stunning run came to an end in the semi-finals as they lost 2-0 to France.Only Ounahi of the scorers against Niger was in the 2022 World Cup squad with coach Walid Regragui introducing new faces since, including Saibari from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.In Group A, Egypt beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Cairo with Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush converting late first-half penalties. Egypt can join Morocco at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico if they win away to second-placed Burkina Faso on Tuesday.Newcastle United signing Yoane Wissa was among the goals as the Democratic Republic of Congo hammered South Sudan 4-1 in Juba to stay top of Group B. Wissa moved from Brentford in a £50mn ($67mn) deal after Sweden striker Alexander Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool in a British record move. The Congolese are hoping to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the central African country was called Zaire.Cedric Bakambu scored twice to help the visitors build a three-goal half-time advantage and Wissa added a fourth before Keer Majak claimed a consolation goal. Senegal trail DR Congo by one point ahead of a top-of-the-table showdown in Kinshasa on Tuesday after beating Sudan 2-0 in Diamniadio through goals from Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr.South Africa maintained a five-point lead in Group C thanks to a comfortable 3-0 'away' victory over neighbours Lesotho in Bloemfontein. The home fixture for Lesotho was moved to the central South African city, 145 kilometres by road from the border, because the mountain kingdom does not have a FIFA-approved stadium.Mohau Nkota, who quit famed Soweto club Orlando Pirates last month to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ettifaq, scored his first international goal for Bafana Bafana (the Boys) on 15 minutes. Lyle Foster from Premier League returnees Burnley and Oswin Appollis netted within four minutes midway through the second half.Victory did come at a cost for South Africa, though, with defenders Nyiko Mobbie and Thabo Moloisane retiring injured ahead of a key clash with Nigeria at the same venue on Tuesday. South Africa have 16 points, five more than Benin, who edged Zimbabwe 1-0 in Abidjan through a Steve Mounie goal. Nigeria, nine points behind the leaders, host Rwanda.Clinical first-half finishing earned Gambia a surprise 3-1 win over Kenya in Nairobi with Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh scoring the second. However, the result had no impact on the top of Group F, with reigning African champions the Ivory Coast away to Gabon on Tuesday in a match likely to decide who finishes first.Serhou Guirassy, a prolific scorer for Borussia Dortmund with 38 goals in all competitions last season, bagged his first for Guinea in World Cup qualifying to set up a 3-0 win over Somalia. But a disappointing campaign by Guinea they lie fourth eight points behind Group G leaders Algeria means Guirassy will almost certainly miss the World Cup.