Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and teammate Gessime Yassine celebrate a goal against Haiti ahead of defeating Netherlands in the last 32 on Monday.
Image: Getty Images via AFP
Morocco's remarkable ascent in world football shows no signs of slowing down. The Atlas Lions are once again carrying Africa's hopes at the FIFA World Cup in North America, demonstrating that their success is built on far more than a memorable run in 2022, even if not everyone has embraced their rise.
The Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the round of 16 at this tournament after defeating the Netherlands 3-1 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Their progression was nothing short of thrilling. They gave the Dutch as good as they got in the round of 32, showing a relentless desire to fight for possession and immense character throughout the match in Monterrey.
When Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead with 18 minutes remaining, it seemed that goal would steal the match for the Europeans, who had otherwise been inferior in possession and dominance. But Morocco hung on.
Showing a never-say-die attitude, the Atlas Lions leveled matters in stoppage time courtesy of Issa Diop. Even in extra time, they refused to drop their heads, fighting until the final whistle.
The match was eventually decided on penalties. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a decisive save after the Netherlands had already missed two spot-kicks, allowing Ismael Saibari to convert the winning penalty and send the African side through.
A proven leader, Bounou has long been the Atlas Lions’ go-to man in crucial moments. Notably, he saved two penalties when Morocco beat Spain to reach a historic semi-final berth in the last edition of the global showpiece.
However, his influence has been brilliantly complemented by his teammates. Saibari, making his World Cup breakthrough just six months after his AFCON debut, is enjoying a dream tournament.
He became the first African to score in all three group-stage matches, repaying the faith shown in him by coach Mohamed Ouahbi. Ouahbi boldly selected the youngster ahead of experienced striker Youssef En-Nesyri, whose World Cup goal-tally Saibari has already matched.
Saibari is proving he is the real deal, playing with the joy and confidence of a player who recently signed with German giants Bayern Munich ahead of the new season.
His ability to rise to the occasion also highlights Ouahbi's tactical prowess. The 49-year-old replaced the revered Walid Regragui after a dramatic AFCON on home soil earlier this year, eager to prove himself after stints with the Moroccan youth teams.
It is now clear that Ouahbi’s successful stint as the U20 national coach – where he led the side to a global title late last year by beating Argentina in the final – was no fluke. He has filled Regragui’s big shoes with aplomb, hardly looking out of place. Consequently, his side is tipped to beat Jesse Marsch’s Canada in the round of 16 and secure a second consecutive quarterfinal appearance.
Built on the foundation laid by Regragui and the structure introduced by Ouahbi, the Atlas Lions look like true contenders, with many tipping them to surpass their historic 2022 semifinal run.
Of course, they still have their naysayers. The team faces lingering criticism over the dramatic AFCON final, which they initially lost 1-0 to Senegal on the pitch, only for the CAF disciplinary committee to overturn the result and crown Morocco champions due to “on-the-field events”.
Nevertheless, if they maintain their fighting spirit and demonstrate strong sportsmanship, they may well exit this World Cup with far more admirers than critics – and potentially a historic finish to a campaign that has already gotten off to a flyer.