By Rahim Abdul
Morocco became the first African nation to book a place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup after defeating Canada 3-0 on Saturday in the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Atlas Lions secured the convincing victory through a brace from Azzedine Ounahi, while Soufiyane Rahimi added the third goal to complete a dominant performance.
The win sends Morocco into the last eight, marking another historic achievement for African football at the global tournament.
Morocco controlled the match for long periods, creating several scoring opportunities while keeping Canada from making a successful comeback.
Canada struggled to break down Morocco’s organised defence and failed to respond after conceding the opening goal.
The North Africans maintained their attacking momentum throughout the match, with Ounahi’s two goals proving decisive before Rahimi sealed the victory.
Morocco’s qualification has boosted hopes across Africa, with the team now carrying the continent’s challenge into the quarter-finals.
The Atlas Lions will now face the winners of the Round of 16 clash between France and Paraguay for a place in the semi-finals.
The result underlines Morocco’s impressive campaign, having continued to produce disciplined performances against strong opposition.
Morocco will now aim to extend its historic World Cup run as it prepares for one of its biggest tests in the quarter-finals.
