Morocco secured a 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16 at the World Cup on Saturday, advancing to the quarterfinals and marking the first time an African nation has reached this stage more than once. The match took place in Houston, where Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead his team to a historic achievement.
Morocco, ranked sixth globally by FIFA, demonstrated its growing status in international soccer. Coach Mohamed Ounahi expressed confidence in the team’s progress, saying they are no longer a surprise but are now considered serious contenders in the tournament. “It’s only the beginning,” he added, emphasizing the team’s ambition to continue advancing.
The victory mirrors Morocco’s strong showing in the 2022 World Cup, where they became the first African team to reach the semifinals. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, a Canadian-born player of Moroccan descent, highlighted the pride in representing Africa, underlining the continent’s rich football talent.
The first goal came in the 50th minute when Ounahi converted a free kick delivered by Achraf Hakimi, scoring from outside the box despite significant defensive pressure. Ounahi then added a second goal in the 82nd minute with a close-range shot from a pass by Brahim Díaz. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the match with a late goal during stoppage time.
Morocco will face France in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Their path to this round included a penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands, which eliminated the former European champions early from the tournament.
Canada’s run ended after a historic campaign in its third World Cup appearance. The team, which had impressed by defeating South Africa in the first knockout round, was without star player Alphonso Davies due to a hamstring injury. Coach Jesse Marsch praised his players for their performance against a top-ranked opponent and challenged them to maintain such standards consistently.
Despite the scoreline, Marsch suggested that Canada controlled much of the match, claiming his team was better than Morocco during substantial stretches. Ounahi responded to these comments by acknowledging Canada’s effort but questioned the assessment given the final result.
The contest was physical, marked by eight yellow cards evenly distributed between the teams. A skirmish in the 40th minute involving Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea highlighted the intense nature of the match. Morocco’s Ismael Sairiabit left the field with an injury in the first half.
Canada had late opportunities to score, with Jonathan David’s free kick missing wide and Tajon Buchanan’s long-range shot saved by Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper made three key saves during the match, helping to maintain his team’s clean sheet.
Saturday’s game was a rematch of their meeting in the group stage of the previous World Cup, where Morocco also emerged victorious. This result solidifies Morocco’s position as a leading force in African football on the world stage.