AFCON 2025
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice as Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 in Houston to book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals for the second straight tournament.
Following a goalless first half, the Atlas Lions rose to the occasion after the break. Canada had controlled the tempo early on, with Tani Oluwaseyi denied by a brilliant Yassine Bounou save, but Morocco took charge once play resumed.
Ounahi broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, capitalising on an improvised free kick from Achraf Hakimi to fire home through traffic.
The midfielder doubled his tally in the 82nd minute with a composed strike inside the box off a blistering counter-attack, effectively sealing the result.
Brahim Diaz then set a new African record with his fourth World Cup assist, teeing up substitute Soufiane Rahimi to complete the scoring deep into stoppage time. Rahimi had come on for the injured Ismael Saibari, who went off with a hamstring problem before the break.
Canada became the first of the three co-host nations eliminated from the tournament, but they can be proud of a historic run that included their first-ever World Cup knockout win, over South Africa in the Round of 32.
Morocco advances to face the winner of Paraguay vs France in the quarterfinals, to be played in Boston.
