Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his team’s impressive second-half response was the key to their commanding 3-0 victory over Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at Houston Stadium on Sunday.
The result secured the Atlas Lions’ place in the quarterfinals.
Ouahbi explained that Morocco had been under pressure throughout the first half. However, after the break, his side played with greater aggression, particularly in winning duels and securing second balls.
“We are very happy. This is a World Cup match, and games like these are always difficult because every team is fighting for everything. We responded extremely well in the second half, especially in winning second balls and individual duels,” Ouahbi said, as quoted by the FIFA website.
Morocco’s Winning Formula Against Canada at the 2026 World Cup
Before halftime, Morocco struggled to find their rhythm. Canada created several dangerous chances against goalkeeper Yassine Bono and appeared to be the more dominant side, but they failed to convert their opportunities into goals.
After the interval, however, the Atlas Lions took complete control of the match.
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in the 50th and 82nd minutes, before Soufiane Rahimi added a third goal deep into stoppage time to seal an emphatic 3-0 victory.
Ouahbi also praised Canada’s performance, describing it as highly impressive. Nevertheless, he believed Morocco’s tactical adjustments after halftime enabled his team to exploit the spaces left in Canada’s defensive line.
“I have to admit that Canada were impressive. They played an outstanding match. That came as no surprise to us. However, in the second half we managed to exploit the spaces they left behind, and that was the key to our victory,” Ouahbi said.
Morocco Set to Face France in the Quarterfinals
Morocco will next take on France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.
The match is scheduled to kick off on July 10, 2026, at 03:00 WIB at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Massachusetts, United States.***
