Clinical Morocco underlines title credentials; Canada bows out

Morocco has solidified its status as a global soccer powerhouse by defeating Canada 3-0 in the World Cup round of 16. The victory propels the North African nation into the quarterfinals for the second consecutive time, a feat no other African team has achieved. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi declared that Morocco is "no longer a surprise" and is now considered a "major contender."

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We are no longer a surprise. Now when people talk about Morocco, we’re a major contender, and it’s a great source of pride. I think it’s only the beginning and I hope we continue to have runs like this.

Azzedine Ounahi was the star of the match, scoring in the 50th and 82nd minutes. His first goal came from a free kick, and his second was a well-placed shot from the middle of the box. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the win with a goal in the final minute of stoppage time. Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou expressed pride in representing Africa and showcasing the continent's talent on the world stage.

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We want to keep going. We don’t want to stop.

The loss marks the end of an unprecedented tournament for Canada. While the co-host nation won its first-ever knockout round match to reach this stage, their journey concludes here. Coach Jesse Marsch praised his team's performance, challenging them to maintain such a high standard against top-tier opponents consistently.

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We are so proud to represent Africa because it’s a continent with a lot of talent and Africa deserves to be at the best level in football.

Morocco now advances to face France in the quarterfinals. This achievement builds on their historic run in 2022, where they became the first African team to reach the semifinals. The team's ambition is clear: "We want to keep going," Ouahbi stated, signaling their intent to challenge for the title.

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I told them that I was proud of them and I challenged them to understand that we can play like this all the time against the best teams in the world. We can be better on the day. And then the challenge is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes?