Morocco sink Scotland to close in on last 32

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Morocco strengthened their bid for a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Scotland in their Group C encounter on Friday night.

An early strike from Ismael Saibari proved decisive as the Atlas Lions held firm against a spirited Scottish challenge to secure all three points and maintain their impressive start to the tournament.

The North Africans wasted little time asserting themselves, taking the lead just two minutes after kick-off. Brahim Diaz threaded a precise through ball into the path of Saibari, who raced into the penalty area before firing emphatically into the roof of the net to hand Morocco a dream start.

The goal capped a dominant opening spell for Morocco, who controlled possession and dictated the tempo through the creativity of Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss.

Scotland struggled to gain a foothold in the contest and failed to register a meaningful attacking threat during the first half, while Morocco repeatedly tested the Scottish defence with quick passing combinations and dangerous set-piece deliveries.

The Scots believed they had earned a route back into the match late in the opening period when they appealed for a penalty. However, after a VAR review, referee Ilgiz Tantashev waved away the claims, leaving Steve Clarke’s side frustrated as they went into the break trailing by a goal.

Morocco continued to threaten after the restart and came close to doubling their advantage. Ismael Saibari struck the post following a dangerous attacking move, while goalkeeper Angus Gunn was forced into a series of important interventions to keep Scotland within touching distance.

Scotland responded with greater urgency in the second half and enjoyed several promising moments. Ryan Christie narrowly missed the target from the edge of the area, while Scott McTominay forced a comfortable save from Moroccan goalkeeper Bono late in the game.

The Scottish side thought they might have won a penalty early in the second half, only for VAR to once again rule against them. Another strong appeal inside the final 10 minutes was also dismissed, adding to Scotland’s frustration.

As the match entered its closing stages, Morocco demonstrated the defensive resilience that has become a hallmark of their recent success on the international stage. Led by Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and Issa Diop, the Atlas Lions absorbed sustained pressure and denied Scotland any clear route to goal.

Bono remained largely untroubled despite Scotland’s late surge, while Morocco continued to look dangerous on the counterattack through substitutes Chemsdine Talbi and Ayoube Amaimouni.

After six minutes of added time, the final whistle confirmed a crucial victory for Morocco, whose disciplined display moved them closer to qualification for the knockout rounds.