The RB Leipzig midfielder’s clinical passing precision anchored the Atlas Lions' dominance in Bloemfontein, solidifying their perfect start to the qualifying campaign through tactical control and relentless pressure.
Neil El Aynaoui continued his strong start to the international campaign as Morocco defeated Lesotho 2-0 in their second Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier on Tuesday.
The RB Leipzig midfielder started in Mohamed Ouahbi's XI at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein and operated in the middle of a midfield that also included Oussama Targhalline and Bilal El Khannouss. Morocco eventually secured a comfortable victory through goals from Brahim Díaz and Azzedine Ounahi.
El Aynaoui remained on the pitch for 68 minutes before being replaced by Abdessamad Ezzalzouli. His performance was built around the simple but important part of midfield play: keeping the ball moving.
According to the match statistics, the 25-year-old completed 66 of his 71 passes, giving him a 93 percent completion rate. His accuracy remained just as impressive in the attacking half, where he completed 42 of 45 attempts, again reaching 93 percent.
Sofascore gave El Aynaoui a 6.9 rating for his performance.
The numbers underline the role he played in a Morocco side that controlled the match for long periods. The Atlas Lions finished with 77 percent possession and completed 304 passes compared with Lesotho's 81. They also limited their opponents to just two shots.
For El Aynaoui, the appearance adds another 68 minutes of international football to what has already been a busy period. He started Morocco's opening qualifier against Gabon four days earlier, playing the full match in a 2-0 victory.
That means Ouahbi is continuing to place his trust in the Leipzig midfielder during the opening two matches of Morocco's qualification campaign. El Aynaoui was included in the first squad selected by Ouahbi, who has introduced several younger players while retaining an experienced core around them. CAF highlighted the coach's decision to combine emerging talent with established internationals as Morocco began its road toward AFCON 2027.
Morocco now sit on six points from their opening two matches and remain at the top of Group A. The federation confirmed that the Atlas Lions will face Niger home and away in the next qualification window in November.
For Leipzig, El Aynaoui's latest international appearance is another reminder of the growing demands on a player who has quickly become an important part of the club's midfield.
He will now return from Morocco with two wins from two qualifiers, 158 minutes of international football, and another performance built on control and passing efficiency.
The next task will be to carry that rhythm back to Leipzig and help the club get back on track.
