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Atlas Lions raise the bar on their World Cup dreams…
The Moroccan national team continued to write new chapters in its history at the 2026 World Cup by securing a place in the round of 16 with a thrilling victory over its Dutch counterparts on penalties (3-2), after the first and extra time ended in a positive draw (1-1), in a match that held its breath until the last moments and once again confirmed the “A” exemption.
Morocco showed great mental toughness and a formidable ability to get back into the game despite a late result, securing qualification thanks to their composure in the penalty shoot-out and setting up a date in the round of 16 with Canada.
The match started at an even pace between the two teams as the Netherlands dominated possession throughout the first half, but it clashed with Morocco’s strong defensive organization and at the start of the second half Morocco looked the more dangerous side, with Achraf Hakimi producing some impressive attacks, notably Maugham’s strike, before the Battalion suffered a painful blow in the 73rd minute through Cody Jacobo’s goal.
The Moroccan team refused to give up and kept the pressure on until Issa Diop grabbed the equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time to send the match to two extra periods and then to penalties where the decision smiled on the Atlas Lions.
On an individual rating level, Foot Mercato gave defender Issa Diop the highest rating of the Moroccan players, 8 out of 10, after he produced a superb defensive display to score the decisive goal, given that he fought hard and was determined against the physical strength of the Dutch team.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was rated 7 out of 10 for his impressive saves and brilliance in the penalty shootout, while Nassir Mazraoui, Neil El Ainoui and Ezeedin Ounahi received the same rating after the trio contributed to the team’s balanced defense and attack.
The website gave Ismail Sibari a 6.5 out of 10 rating, praising his movements between the lines and his constant threat to the Dutch defence, while Ashraf Hakimi, despite his great attacking activity, was given a 6 out of 10 rating, after a report suggested he left some spaces behind and missed a penalty.
Shadi Riyad and Bilal Al-Khanous also scored 6 out of 10, while Ayoub Bouadi got 5.5 out of 10 after a good performance in the build-up, but he faltered at times and slowed down Morocco’s pace.
As for Ibrahim Diaz, he was the lowest in the starting line-up, scoring 5 out of 10, as the French website saw his artistic flair not being enough to make a difference against the Dutch defensive set-up despite his continued attempts to create spaces.
Foot Mercato confirmed that this qualification reflects the remarkable development that Moroccan football has undergone in recent years, stating that the team is no longer just a surprise in major tournaments, but has become a team with a real competitive nature and is capable of competing with the best players in the world.
