Morocco dismantled World Cup co-host Canada 3-0 at Houston Stadium early Sunday. The Atlas Lions broke open a completely scoreless first half with a relentless attacking display to punch their ticket to the final eight.
Azzedine Ounahi took complete control of the midfield and delivered a brilliant brace. He found the net in the 50th minute to break the deadlock. He struck again in the 82nd minute, finishing off a sharp assist from Real Madrid’s Brahim DÃaz. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the blowout with a final stoppage-time goal in the 98th minute. The timeline of the Houston match, tracked by NDTV, highlighted Canada’s inability to penetrate the Moroccan defensive lines.
The victory cements a permanent legacy. Morocco is now the first African nation in history to reach the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in consecutive tournaments. This achievement builds directly on their unprecedented semifinal run in Qatar four years ago.
Former professional footballer Yassir Babennass praised the squad’s precise execution of fast counterattacks under immense pressure. He emphasized the global weight of the victory, telling the Anadolu Agency that the squad represents Africans and Muslims on the world stage.
Diaspora communities poured into streets globally. Widespread celebrations erupted across Casablanca and Rabat to deafening chants of “Dima Maghreb.” The Atlas Lions now head to Boston for a July 9 quarterfinal clash. They await the winner of the France and Paraguay fixture as the knockout bracket finalizes over the weekend.