Morocco secured a 1-0 victory over Scotland in their Group C World Cup match on Friday, taking control of the group with four points from two games. The win was sealed by Ismael Saibari's goal after just 71 seconds, the fastest of the tournament so far. Despite Scotland's late surge, Morocco held firm to maintain their lead in the group.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised his team's performance, calling it an improvement over their 1-1 draw with Brazil. 'We controlled the whole game and, in terms of efficiency, I saw it as actually better than the first game,' he said. The team completed 601 passes, the most by an African side in World Cup history, showcasing their technical dominance.
Scotland, meanwhile, must regroup ahead of their final group match against Brazil. Manager Steve Clarke acknowledged the disappointment but remained optimistic. 'The games don’t get much easier,' he said, emphasizing the need for quick recovery.
The match also drew attention to Achraf Hakimi, Morocco's captain, who is facing a rape trial in France. Ouahbi dismissed concerns about the case affecting the team, stating Hakimi played 'extraordinarily' in the match.
Morocco will next face Haiti, while Scotland takes on Brazil in their final group-stage fixture.