Morocco's defender #14 Issa Diop (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with forward #09 Soufiane Rahimi during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between the Netherlands and Morocco at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)
Following their victory over the Netherlands in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, Morocco set new benchmarks for African teams at the tournament in terms of possession and progression, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Morocco eliminated the Dutch 3-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 following extra time.
Issa Diop scored a late equaliser to cancel out Cody Gakpo’s 72nd-minute opener for the Netherlands and force the game into extra time.
During the penalty shootout, both sides had already missed two spot-kicks before Crysencio Summerville saw the Netherlands’ fifth penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, allowing Ismael Saibari to convert the decisive kick and seal victory for the Atlas Lions.
