Morocco made history on Saturday by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for a second time, defeating co-hosts Canada 3-0 in Houston to end the host nation's journey in the tournament. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice and Soufiane Rahimi added a third as the Atlas Lions produced a dominant second-half performance to set up a last-eight clash.
The victory, played out in front of a passionate crowd at the NRG Stadium, marked another milestone for Moroccan football under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who took over from Walid Regragui in February. Regragui had led Morocco to the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022 — the best ever performance by an African side — but Ouahbi's team has now matched that achievement by reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive World Cup.
Ounahi broke the deadlock early in the second half, finishing calmly after a well-worked move that sliced through the Canadian defence. The midfielder, who also impressed during the 2022 tournament, doubled Morocco's lead shortly afterwards with a composed strike from inside the box. Rahimi then sealed the win with a third goal late in the game, ensuring a comfortable passage for the North Africans.
Canada, making their second consecutive World Cup appearance and co-hosting the tournament alongside the United States and Mexico, had hoped to progress beyond the group stage for the first time. However, they struggled to create clear chances against a well-organised Moroccan defence and were unable to recover after falling behind.
The result means Morocco will now face either Brazil or Portugal in the quarter-finals, continuing their remarkable run in world football. Ouahbi's side have conceded just one goal in four matches so far in the tournament, underlining their defensive solidity while also showing improved attacking flair compared to the more cautious approach under Regragui.
Regragui's tenure had come under scrutiny after Morocco's early exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which they hosted. Despite leading the team to a World Cup semi-final and losing only four of his 49 matches in charge — including that semi-final against France and the third-place playoff against Croatia — critics accused him of being overly defensive. Ouahbi has brought a more expansive style, and the results have been immediate.
For Canada, the defeat ends a World Cup campaign that began with high hopes but ultimately fell short. The co-hosts had qualified automatically as one of the three host nations and were drawn in a challenging group. Despite spirited performances, they were unable to advance beyond the round of 16, leaving their fans disappointed but proud of the team's effort on home soil.
Morocco's achievement is particularly significant for African football. No African side had ever reached the World Cup semi-finals before Morocco's run in 2022, and now they have become the first to reach the quarter-finals twice. The feat underscores the rapid development of football on the continent and raises expectations for future tournaments.
Ounahi, who was named man of the match, said after the game that the team's belief had never wavered. The midfielder's two goals took his tally for the tournament to three, making him one of the standout performers. Rahimi, who came off the bench to score the third, also earned praise for his impact.
Coach Ouahbi, who had wagged a delighted finger after Ounahi's opening goal, acknowledged the pressure of following Regragui but said the squad had embraced a new philosophy. The victory in Houston ensures that Morocco will remain in the spotlight as they chase an even deeper run in the tournament.
