A Ounahi brace and a late Rahimi strike send the Atlas Lions through, as the first of the three host nations bows out. Morocco now await the winner of France vs. Paraguay.
HOUSTON — Morocco continue to write history for African football at the World Cup. In the match that opened the Round of 16, the Atlas Lions thrashed Canada 3-0, sending the first of the tournament’s three host nations home and reaching the quarterfinals for the second consecutive edition — a feat no African nation had ever achieved before.
A tight first half, then the second-half explosion
At Houston Stadium, in front of a packed crowd celebrating the Fourth of July, Jesse Marsch’s Canada came out with intent: Jonathan David and Oluwaseyi both tested the Moroccan defense early on, only to find a sharp Bounou standing in their way. The first half ended goalless, with Canada running hard and staying organized without consistently threatening, while Morocco looked short of their usual sharpness.
Everything changed after the break. In the 50th minute came the breakthrough: from a set-piece move orchestrated by captain Hakimi, Azzedine Ounahi controlled and finished with a precise strike that beat Crépeau. From there, Morocco grew in confidence and began to punish Canada on the counterattack.
Ounahi’s show, then Rahimi seals it
The second goal also came from Ounahi’s boot: in the 82nd minute, off a lightning-quick counter started by Brahim Diaz, the former Marseille midfielder found himself one-on-one with the Canadian goalkeeper and made no mistake, completing his brace. Canada tried to respond through David and Buchanan but lacked precision. Morocco came close to a third when Rahimi struck the crossbar in the 85th minute, before finally getting their goal in second-half stoppage time: a clinical counterattack finished off by the striker, who had come on at the start of the second half for an injured Saibari.
A record-breaking qualification
With this win, Morocco reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the second straight edition, becoming the first African nation in history to do so more than once. It’s further proof of a side that eliminated the Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw in regulation, and one of the most solid teams of the tournament, conceding just 8.3 shots per game on average.
For Canada, the run ends here — though it’s still a historic achievement for the co-hosts, who had reached the Round of 16 for the first time in their history after beating South Africa in the previous round thanks to Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute winner.
Next up: the winner of France vs. Paraguay
Morocco now await the result of France vs. Paraguay, played later the same evening in Philadelphia, to learn their quarterfinal opponent on July 9. A ruthless and mature side, Morocco converted three of their five shots on target into goals.
Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, De Fougerolles, Laryea; Buchanan, Sigur, Eustaquio, Ahmed (Promise David); J. David, Oluwaseyi. Coach: Marsch.
Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Halhal, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari (Rahimi). Coach: Ouahbi.