Morocco defeats Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals again

Morocco put on a clinic against Canada in the last-16, dismantling them to answer a question hanging over the Atlas Lions: could they make another deep run at a World Cup? The answer came Saturday in Houston—a commanding 3-0 victory that sent them to the quarter-finals for the second successive tournament.

Azzedine Ounahi, Girona’s midfielder, orchestrated the performance. Two goals from him, then a late third from Soufiane Rahimi—an AFC Champions League winner with Al Ain—sealed it. All this despite losing Ismael Saibari to injury in the first half, the same player who had scored in all three group-stage games.

Morocco’s journey here had its skeptics. Manager Mohamed Ouahbi, a Belgian coach, had only 98 days to get the team ready before the tournament started. Yet this squad has the resume to back up its ambitions. Four years ago in Qatar, they knocked out Belgium, Spain and Portugal, reaching the semi-finals before France stopped them. This time around, they beat the Netherlands on penalties after Issa Diop salvaged a draw in the dying moments.

Canada came in riding a wave. They’d beaten South Africa in the previous round—Stephen Eustaquio scored the winner in stoppage time—and earlier thumped Qatar 6-0 for their first World Cup victory. But Morocco’s experience and quality proved insurmountable. Michael Oliver, the English referee, oversaw what became a thoroughly one-sided match.

Morocco’s next opponent emerges from the France-Paraguay last-16 clash scheduled for Thursday in Boston. If France wins, the Atlas Lions get a rematch with the team that ended their run four years back. For now, captain Achraf Hakimi and his squad have proven they belong with the tournament’s best.