Morocco's Issa Diop credited a complete team performance after the African side defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to book their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The match, held in Guadalupe, Mexico, ended 1-1 after extra time, with Morocco prevailing 3-2 on penalties.
Diop praises collective effort
Speaking to the host broadcaster in a video shared by DAZN Football on X after the match, Diop praised the collective effort of his teammates and said the squad had executed its game plan perfectly. "Yeah. It's just a team performance today. It was the whole team performing very well. We executed the plan very well. And in the end, we won it. And I'm just exhausted. I just want to recover, and that's it," Diop said.
Diop's heroics and penalty shootout drama
Diop played a pivotal role in Morocco's dramatic victory, scoring the stoppage-time equaliser before the North African side prevailed 3-2 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 following extra time. Cody Gakpo had given the Dutch the lead in the second half with an emotional goal, days after announcing the loss of his unborn child. However, Diop's header in stoppage time forced extra time.
With neither side able to find a winner, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as Morocco's hero by saving Crysencio Summerville's penalty before Ismael Saibari converted the decisive spot-kick. Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the Round of 16.
Faith and gratitude
The defender also expressed gratitude to God, saying the victory was about faith rather than individual achievements. "As I said before, we are a Muslim country, Muslim people. So it's not about individuals or people. It's just about God, and we're just going to thank God," he told host broadcasters.
Morocco's official team account shared a video of players performing a sujud (prostration) in gratitude after the qualification, with the caption: "A moment of gratitude after qualification."
