Morocco overcame a severe early scare to defeat a spirited Haiti 4-2 and finish second in Group C at the 2026 World Cup.
The Atlas Lions’ rotated side fell behind to an early Yassine Bounou own goal before captain Achraf Hakimi and history-maker Ismael Saibari turned the tide in a chaotic four-goal first half.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s second-half substitutions then restored normality. Goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine eventually broke Haiti’s commendable low-block, securing all three points and preserving Ouahbi’s magnificent record as senior boss.
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Morocco vs Haiti analysis
Haiti’s historic first half
Before this year’s tournament, Haiti had scored just two World Cup goals in their entire history. Emmanuel Sanon was the only Haitian to score at a World Cup finals having struck twice at the 1974 edition.
That all changed inside 43 record-equalling minutes as Sebastien Migne’s side doubled that tally, but in the most heartbreaking way possible. Lenny Joseph was robbed of becoming a national hero by a dubious Yassine Bounou own-goal ruling, but that did still end Haiti’s 52-year wait for a World Cup goal.
The moment was instead handed to Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor – an autumn debutant – who became only the second man in Haitian history to score at a World Cup. He did so in some style, hitting across the goalkeeper into the far-right corner, leaving Bounou with no chance of stopping the strike.
And it wasn’t just luck either. The Grenadiers actively exploited a heavily rotated Moroccan left flank. Jean-Kevin Duverne’s overlapping runs continually unpicked the favourites, allowing Haiti to operate with a lethal efficiency.
Star power and squad depth rescue rotated Morocco
The Atlas Lions relied heavily on individual quality to bail them out after making four alterations following zero changes in the opening two fixtures. Captain Achraf Hakimi, on the cusp of his centurial cap, put in a masterclass, scoring his first World Cup finals goal for Morocco’s first equaliser before providing a superb, composed assist for Saibari’s leveller.
Meanwhile, Ismael Saibari achieved his own personal slice of history with that goal, becoming the first African player ever to score in all three group stage games at a World Cup.
As a result of the personnel shuffle, Morocco may have retained much of their attacking invention, but this came at the expense of defensive solidity. Mohamed Ouahbi’s men saw 64% of the ball in the first half and ended the game with 71% possession, but were exploited on the counter, with Haiti’s opener coming from a simple overlap.
Ultimately, the gulf between the 9th-ranked team in the world and the 9th-best team in CONCACAF told in the final exchanges. While 76 places separate these two sides on paper, it required the full depth of Morocco’s squad to finally put a relentless Haiti to bed.
Substitute Soufiane Rahimi’s impact off the bench completely flipped the momentum back in Morocco’s favour before they added a fourth. In the end, their tactical gamble paid off because Mohamed Ouahbi’s in-game management ensured his remarkable unbeaten streak since taking charge this past March remains firmly intact.
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Blueprint for the future?
The scoreline does a massive disservice to the tactical bravery shown by Sebastien Migne’s men. Entering the game with zero points and their elimination already sealed, Les Grenadiers refused to simply play out the string. Instead, they approached the 2022 semi-finalists with a structural freedom and heart that completely disrupted the group’s hierarchy for over an hour.
Migne’s defensive blueprint was highly commendable. They compressed the space efficiently inside their own defensive third, frustrating Morocco’s midfield for long stretches. When they did win the ball, they transitioned with lightning efficiency, using Jean-Kevin Duverne’s overlapping runs to expose Morocco’s high defensive line.
While they depart the tournament without the tangible points their performance arguably merited, doubling their entire historical World Cup goal tally in a single half against a top-10 side in the world provides a monumental foundation for the future.
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