Morocco secured a dramatic victory over the Netherlands in a World Cup knockout match on Monday night in Monterrey, advancing to the Round of 16 with a 3-2 penalty shootout win following a 1-1 draw in regular time. The win marked an early exit for the Netherlands, a result that surprised many observers.

Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty to send Morocco through, while goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen initially appeared to save a spot-kick from Soufiane Rahimi but was ultimately beaten when the ball deflected off Rahimi’s leg into the net. Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who was appointed in March, credited a measure of divine intervention for the outcome.

“We know when we do everything on the pitch, it’s God that gives something back to us as well. We give all the energy that we have on the field,” Ouahbi said. Reflecting on the crucial moment, he added, “Rahimi’s goal could have not been a goal but it went in, thankfully.”

The Atlas Lions will next face the co-hosts Canada in the Round of 16 scheduled for Saturday. Ouahbi acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed confidence in his team’s growing stature. “Morocco has gained everybody’s respect now. We need to be telling ourselves that no one can stop us,” he said. At the same time, he cautioned his squad about the difficulty of the path forward: “Nobody is unbeatable. If we get things wrong, we’ll go home.”

Saibari, who scored the winning penalty, has attracted significant transfer interest ahead of the new club season. The forward is set to join Bayern Munich after the German champions agreed a £47 million deal with PSV Eindhoven for his services. His performances at the tournament have boosted both his profile and Morocco’s prospects as they continue their World Cup campaign.