Atlas Lions roar into quarter-finals as Ounahi masterclass topples Canada

Morocco replicated their deep tournament pedigree to march into the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup with a clinical second-half dismantled of co-hosts Canada at the Houston Stadium. Following a feisty and goalless opening 45 minutes defined by tactical tension and a flurry of bookings, the 2022 semi-finalists turned on the style after the interval to register an impressive victory.

The first half was a highly physical affair that kept referee Michael Oliver busy. Despite Canada commanding periods of possession and applying high intensity, their final ball lacked precision. Meanwhile, the main story of the opening period quickly became the accumulation of disciplinary cautions.

Morocco’s Redouane Halhal was the first to enter the book in the 20th minute. Tempers flared further in the 40th minute when an off-the-ball altercation resulted in double yellow cards for Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Canada's Richie Laryea.

The discipline continued to unravel as Canada's Jonathan David was cautioned in the 43rd minute for a pulling foul, closely followed by Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi in the 45th minute for a challenge from behind. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Bilal El Khannouss picked up Morocco's fourth yellow card of the half in the 45+6th minute.

Morocco also faced an early setback when their star forward Ismael Saibari suffered a first-half injury, forcing an unexpected 21st-minute substitution that brought Soufiane Rahimi onto the pitch.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 50th minute through a beautifully engineered set-piece. Achraf Hakimi accurately picked out Azzedine Ounahi, who kept his composure to fire a first-time strike through a crowded penalty area and into the far corner past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.

The physical nature of the knockout tie persisted after the breakthrough, with Canada's Luc de Fougerolles receiving a yellow card in the 49th minute, and substitute Cyle Larin picking up another caution for the co-hosts in the 67th minute just before a mid-half hydration break.

As Canada threw players forward in search of an equalizer, Morocco capitalised with ruthless efficiency on the counter-attack. In the 82nd minute, a sweeping transition saw Chemsdine Talbi intercept a pass and feed Brahim Díaz, who expertly cut inside to locate Ounahi. The midfielder opened up his body and curled a powerful finish into the top corner to secure his brace and double the advantage.

Deep into eight minutes of added time, Canada's frustrations boiled over as a late handball decision halted their attack. Morocco capitalized on the remaining seconds to put the exclamation mark on the triumph. In the 90+8th minute, Díaz orchestrated another swift breakaway before slipping a pass to Soufiane Rahimi, who calmly slotted a left-footed strike past Crépeau to make it three.

Tactically, the match was incredibly even in terms of control, with both teams registering an identical 50% possession rate. The difference came down to execution under pressure; while Canada struggled to convert their athletic dominance into high-quality opportunities, Morocco’s tactical maturity shone through.

By securing this emphatic clean sheet, Morocco becomes the very first team to lock in a spot in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, keeping their dreams of matching or bettering their historic 2022 run firmly alive.