Morocco secured a 3-0 victory over World Cup co-host Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday, advancing to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive tournament. The win makes Morocco the first African nation to reach the final eight more than once.
Match Highlights and Key Goals
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco. In the 50th minute, he took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and fired a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box into the bottom right corner. He added a second goal in the 82nd minute, converting a pass from Brahim Diaz with a right-footed strike from the middle of the box. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the win in stoppage time.
Coach Ouahbi: Morocco Now a Major Contender
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his team has established itself among soccer's elite. “We are no longer a surprise,” Ouahbi stated through an interpreter. “Now when people talk about Morocco we’re a major contender and it’s a great source of pride. I think it’s only the beginning and I hope we continue to have runs like this.” He added, “We want to keep going. We don’t want to stop.”
Historic Achievement for African Football
This is Morocco's second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said, “We are so proud to represent Africa because it’s a continent with a lot of talent and Africa deserves to be in the best level in football.”
Canada's Historic Run Ends
The loss ends a historic run for Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round game, beating South Africa 1-0 to reach the Round of 16. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time. Coach Jesse Marsch told his team, “I told them that I was proud of them and I challenged them to understand that we can play like this all the time against the best teams in the world. We can be better on the day. And then the challenge is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes?”
Match Statistics and Physical Play
Morocco, ranked No. 7 in the FIFA rankings, dispatched the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the Round of 16. Marsch praised his team's performance, saying, “The way we pushed, the way we were in the match, the quality we showed, the overall impact in the match, we were better. We were better than the No. 7 team in the world today.” Ouahbi responded, “In terms of intensity they were good. They were good for 98 minutes. Were they better? It’s hard to say. It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-nil.”
Canada had late chances: Jonathan David's free kick sailed over the crossbar in the 78th minute, and Tajon Buchanan's shot from 30 yards was saved by Bounou, who made three saves. The match was physical, with eight yellow cards issued, four to each team. Hakimi and Canada's Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute after a scuffle. Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.
Celebrations in Morocco
The victory sparked huge celebrations in Morocco. Thousands poured into the streets of Casablanca, with horns echoing, supporters climbing onto car roofs, waving flags, and chanting. Traffic stopped along the Corniche Boulevard as fans danced, set off fireworks, and waved flares.
Upcoming Quarterfinal
Morocco will face France on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France beat Paraguay earlier on Saturday.
