By

Arinze Izik

HOUSTON, July 5 — Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his team has moved past being underdogs after booking a place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada in Houston on Saturday.

The Atlas Lions, who reached the semi-finals in Qatar 2022 and won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, were not at their fluent best but were ruthless in front of goal. They will now face either France or Paraguay in the last eight.

“We’re no longer a surprise today and that’s a great source of pride,” Ouahbi said after the match. “I think this is only the beginning and I hope we’ll keep producing this kind of run for many years.”

Morocco lost to France in the semi-finals four years ago, but Ouahbi insisted revenge is not the focus.
“We want to go as far as possible and make our people proud,” he added.

Canada started strongly and controlled much of the first half, but the game turned after the break. Azzedine Ounahi struck twice for Morocco in the 50th and 82nd minutes to seal the win.

“What we’re trying to get across to our players is that we’re playing in a World Cup, which means you go through difficult moments,” Ouahbi said. “What we needed to do was hold on and show resilience when things aren’t going so well.”

Canada coach Jesse Marsch claimed his side had been the better team, a comment that drew a sharp response from Ouahbi.
“In terms of intensity they were good, that has to be said,” the Moroccan coach replied. “Were they better? Hard to say that when you lose 3-0, it’s a bold claim.”

“They were well organised, but I think in the second half there was no contest,” Ouahbi continued. “In any case, I’m not sure many teams are going to win by that scoreline in the round of 16.”