Morocco finds its prince

To a Morocco devastated by Abde’s injury before the tournament, also by the early knockout-stage injury to their best player Saibari against Canada, to a team to which Brahim is contributing more assists than goals, to this group of players born in Europe but proud to wear their families’ country’s jersey, they lacked a genius to switch the lights on in the toughest moments, someone to grab onto in the worst turns.

That genius was indeed born in Morocco and is called Ounahi. It was the talent from Casablanca who rescued the Atlas Lions and put them back among the world’s top eight. What happened four years ago in Qatar— that historic semifinal—was not a fluke. At the next World Cup, this one, they came to fight for everything, whatever it takes, whoever they face.

Overcoming the adversities and discomforts Canada put in their way, Ouahbi’s side prevailed in a battle that again crowns their project. It was far from easy. Things went wrong early with Saibari’s injury. His body has transformed so much into that of a number nine, so different from the wide, wing or inside player he was, that even his musculature suffers. With the leg power he has, ruptures are unfortunately common.

It was a blow for Morocco, which could not find its essence or spirit, beyond Bono. The Moroccan goalkeeper is becoming a historical figure. Having already surpassed the Ezaki Baddu legend, he must now be placed beyond the Moroccan and African context as one of the best goalkeepers of the 21st century. With his feet, in particular, few can match him. That’s how he produced a spectacular stop from Oluwaseyi. Earlier he had also denied David with his hand, albeit always in that crossed, purely Argentine positioning.

On the solidity of Bono, Morocco’s victory was built once again. They are not as brilliant as they could be, but they always survive. Without the best version of Brahim, nor even the brilliance of his outstanding midfielders Bouaddi and El Ayanoui, Canada was unable to take the ball or the initiative from them. The double takeaway Morocco must draw is that they can still compete in a match played under less-than-ideal conditions.

Likewise, there is strategic work that helps them find their way out of mazes. That is how the North African side found the prize. Achraf’s threat from a wide free kick broke down the Canadian defence. The set play was designed precisely to free Ounahi at the edge of the box, and he did not miss from the first touch.

A golazo from Girona’s prince, the Moroccan Valerón, the player who even surprised Luis Enrique at the previous World Cup when he admitted he knew nothing about him, just before being eliminated by them in a statement that reverberated worldwide. This Ounahi retains that talent but has added composure, experience in major leagues and leadership. A superb footballer with a release clause of $23 million at a relegated Girona. There will be a queue to sign him this summer.

Morocco’s party was completed by him on a counter led precisely by Talbi and finished even better by Brahim, who laid the goal on a plate for Ounahi, as he later did for Rahimi. Two more assists from Brahim, who has four in the World Cup, to drive Morocco—never-say-die and able to lift itself out of difficult situations—further into the elite. They have the makings to achieve it. Among other things, they have a prince who plays football like an angel.

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Canada

• 16 Maxime Crépeau
• 2 Alistair Johnston
• 22 Richie Laryea (77')
• 15 Moïse Bombito
• 4 Luc De Fougerolles -
• 23 Niko Sigur (86')-
• 20 Ali Ahmed (77')-
• 17 Tajon Buchanan (86')-
• 7 Stephen Eustáquio
• 10 Jonathan David
• 12 Tani Oluwaseyi (62')
• Substitutes
• 11 Liam Millar
• 5 Joel Waterman
• 21 Jonathan Osorio (86')SC
• 24 Promise David (77')
• 18 Owen Goodman
• 19 Alphonso Davies
• 25 Nathan Saliba
• 6 Mathieu Choiniere
• 14 Jacob Shaffelburg (77')
• 13 Derek Cornelius
• 9 Cyle Larin (62')
• 1 Dayne St. Clair
• 26 Jayden Nelson (86')
• 3 Alfie Jones

Morocco

• 1 Bono
• 2 Achraf Hakimi
• 14 Issa Diop (86')
• 25 Redouane Halhal
• 3 Noussair Mazraoui
• 24 Neil El Aynaoui
• 23 Bilal El Khannous (62')
• 8 Azz-Eddine Ounahi x2(86')
• 6 Ayyoub Bouaddi (62')
• 10 Brahim
• 11 Ismael Saibari (21')
• Substitutes
• 18 Chadi Riad
• 26 Anass Salah-Eddine
• 20 Ayoub El Kaabi
• 17 Amine Sbaï
• 12 Munir
• 9 Soufiane Rahimi (21')
• 22 Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti
• 4 Amrabat (62')
• 15 Samir El Mourabet (86')SC
• 5 Marwane Saadane (86')SC
• 13 Zakaria El Ouahdi
• 7 Chemsdine Talbi (62')
• 16 Gessime Yassine
• 19 Youssef Belammari
• 21 Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab

Substitutions

Soufiane Rahimi (21', Ismael Saibari), Cyle Larin (62', Tani Oluwaseyi), Chemsdine Talbi (62', Bilal El Khannouss), Sofyan Amrabat (62', Ayyoub Bouaddi), Promise David (77', Ali Ahmed), Jacob Shaffelburg (77', Richie Laryea), Jayden Nelson (86', Tajon Buchanan), Jonathan Osorio (86', Niko Sigur), Marwane Saadane (86', Issa Diop), Samir El Mourabet (86', Azzedine Ounahi)

Goals

0-1, 49': Azz-Eddine Ounahi, 0-2, 81': Azz-Eddine Ounahi, 0-3, 97': Soufiane Rahimi

Cards

Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR Referee: Jarred Gillett, Dennis Higler
Redouane Halhal (19',Yellow), Richie Laryea (39',Yellow), Achraf Hakimi (39',Yellow), Jonathan David (42',Yellow), Azz-Eddine Ounahi (44',Yellow), Luc De Fougerolles (48',Yellow), Bilal El Khannous (50',Yellow), Cyle Larin (66',Yellow)