Morocco secured a historic place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Thursday with a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada, becoming the first African nation to top their group since Nigeria in 1998. The Atlas Lions finished Group F with seven points after wins over Belgium and Canada and a draw against 2018 finalists Croatia, eliminating the European heavyweights in the process.
The match turned decisively in the second half thanks to midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who scored twice in a six-minute span. His first goal came in the 53rd minute, a composed finish after a swift counter-attack, and he doubled his tally in the 59th with a low strike from the edge of the box. The 22-year-old Angers player has emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout stars, combining tireless running with technical poise. Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring in the fourth minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to give Morocco an early lead they never relinquished.
Under coach Walid Regragui, appointed just three months before the tournament, Morocco has conceded only once in four matches — an own goal against Canada. Their defensive structure, anchored by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and center-backs Romain Saïss and Nayef Aguerd, has frustrated elite attacks. Against Canada, Morocco ceded possession (38%) but remained compact, striking efficiently on the break. Regragui’s side has now kept three clean sheets in the knockout stage, a testament to organizational clarity and collective sacrifice.
By topping Group F, Morocco avoided a likely round-of-16 clash with Brazil, instead setting up a quarterfinal against Spain or Japan. No African team had reached the last eight since Ghana in 2010; only Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010) had previously done so. Morocco’s achievement resonates beyond the pitch: it validates a generation of talent developed in European academies but choosing to represent their heritage nation, and it shifts perceptions of African football’s tactical maturity.
Morocco faces the winner of Spain vs. Japan on December 6. While the quarterfinal opponent will be favored by bookmakers, Morocco’s blend of defensive resilience, midfield control via Sofyan Amrabat, and attacking flair from Ziyech and Ounahi makes them a dangerous outlier. For Canadian fans, the tournament ends with three losses and two goals scored — a learning curve for a program building toward 2026 co-hosting duties. For Morocco, history beckons: one more win would make them the first African semifinalist ever.
Image: Photo: Rabat 24h · Pexels
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera.
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