Azzedine Ounahi scored a brace as Morocco put up an outstanding performance to knock out co-host Canada 3-0 at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.
It was a brilliant game for the African national team who showed up and delivered at the biggest of stage to claim back-to-back quarterfinal berth.
Despite a spirited and highly disciplined performance, the co-hosts were defeated 3-0 by a clinical Morocco side in the Round of 16.
From the opening whistle at Houston Stadium, both teams pushed with everything they had in their tank. Canada, buoyed by the support of the home crowd, played with significant intensity.
Head coach Jesse Marsch, seeking to maintain the momentum from their previous victory over South Africa, deployed an aggressive game plan.
The first half was more of high-pressure approach from the Canadians. They challenged Morocco early, forcing the North African powerhouse to defend deep.
In the 11th minute, Tani Oluwaseyi produced a moment of magic, controlling the ball with poise before firing a dangerous shot toward the net. However, Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, stood tall, making a world-class save to keep the score level.
The physical nature of the match saw the referee reach for his cards often, with six yellow cards issued before the halftime break.
Both sides fought hard for every ball, but neither could find the breakthrough, sending the teams into the locker rooms deadlocked at 0-0.
The match shifted in favor of the Atlas Lions shortly after the resumption of play. Morocco emerged for the second half with renewed focus and precision.
In the 50th minute, Azzedine Ounahi finally broke the deadlock. After a clever free-kick setup from Achraf Hakimi, Ounahi unleashed a powerful right-footed strike from outside the box that fell into the bottom-right corner, leaving the Canadian defense stunned.
As the second half progressed, Canada pushed forward in a desperate search for an equalizer, but this left them vulnerable to Morocco’s lightning-fast counterattacks.
Ounahi continued his dominance in the 82nd minute. Capitalizing on a brilliant passage of play initiated by Diaz, the Moroccan midfielder calmly slotted home his second goal of the day, effectively putting the game out of reach.
The final blow came deep into stoppage time. In the 98th minute, Soufiane Rahimi finished a fluid team move, sealing the 3-0 victory and confirming Morocco’s place in the quarterfinals.
Although the defeat is undoubtedly painful for the players and their fans, the 2026 tournament will be remembered as a landmark event for Canadian soccer.
Before this year, the Canada men’s national team had never secured a single point in a senior World Cup match. In 2026, they not only earned their first point but also grabbed their first-ever victory and advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in history.
For Morocco, the victory serves as a statement of intent. By reaching the quarterfinals, the Atlas Lions continue to cement their legacy as a force in international football, becoming the first African nation to reach the last eight on more than one occasion.
As Morocco advances to prepare for a quarterfinal clash against either France or Paraguay. They have proven that they belong among the world’s top nations as this journey in the summer of 2026 is one that will go down in history.
