CAF Praises Morocco After Penalty Shootout Victory
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) published a statement on its official website following Morocco's dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32. The Atlas Lions, semi-finalists in 2022, secured their place in the Round of 16 after an intense 120-minute battle that ended 1-1 in regular time.
Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the 72nd minute, but Morocco defender Issa Diop equalised with just five minutes remaining to force extra time. Neither side could find a winner, leading to a penalty shootout. Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi missed for Morocco, while Justin Kluivert and Quinten Timber failed to convert for the Dutch. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's attempt, and Ismael Saibari stepped up to score the decisive penalty.
Morocco to Face Canada in Round of 16
CAF confirmed that Morocco will now face Canada in the Round of 16. Canada, co-hosts of the tournament, advanced by defeating South Africa in the Round of 32 with a late strike from Stephen Eustaquio. Morocco's victory ensures they remain Africa's best hope for a deep tournament run, as two other African nations have been eliminated: Tunisia exited in the group stage, and South Africa fell in the first knockout round.
According to CAF, Morocco's progress reaffirms their status as one of Africa's strongest teams on the global stage. The Atlas Lions have now reached the Round of 16 in consecutive World Cups, a feat achieved by few African sides.
Coach Ouahbi Praises Team's Composure
Moroccan head coach Mohamed Ouahbi lauded his team's performance, stating they fully deserved the win. “We completely dominated a Netherlands team. We had 70% possession, more shots and more expected goals. We controlled the match,” Ouahbi told FIFA after the game. He added that the team remained calm even when the match went to penalties, thanks to their confidence in goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. “We wanted to stay calm, play our game and believe that if it went to penalties we had an exceptional goalkeeper. We didn’t turn the match into a chaotic battle. We controlled it,” he said.
Ouahbi also emphasised that Morocco has earned global respect through their performances. “Morocco has gained everybody’s respect now. It’s not because of what we’ve said. We’ve now shown it,” he added.
Morocco Breaks Nigeria's World Cup Scoring Record
Earlier in the tournament, Morocco set a new African record for most goals scored at the FIFA World Cup. Following their 4-2 group stage win over Haiti, the Atlas Lions surpassed Nigeria's long-standing record of 23 goals, reaching 27 goals in total. This achievement underscores Morocco's attacking prowess and marks a historic moment for African football.
