Morocco Survive Haiti Scare to Reach World Cup Knockout Stage | Dawan Africa

The Atlas Lions dominated possession, finishing the match with 69 per cent of the ball, 22 shots, and 11 efforts on target. Haiti defended bravely but gradually began to tire under relentless pressure.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 78th minute.

Substitute Soufiane Rahimi, introduced to provide fresh attacking impetus, saw his effort take a deflection on its way into the net. For the first time all evening, Morocco had the lead. The goal was a crushing blow for a Haitian side that had fought admirably throughout the contest.

Any remaining doubt was removed in the 89th minute when another substitute, 20-year-old Gessime Yassine, scored his first international goal. After excellent work to keep the ball in play near the byline, Morocco carved open the Haitian defence and Yassine applied the finishing touch to make it 4-2.

The final whistle sparked celebrations among the Moroccan players and supporters, although the performance revealed some defensive vulnerabilities that may concern coach Ouahbi ahead of the knockout rounds. While Morocco’s attacking quality ultimately carried them through, conceding twice against an already eliminated Haiti side exposed weaknesses that stronger opponents could exploit.

Nevertheless, the primary objective was achieved.

Morocco finished the group stage unbeaten, collecting seven points from three matches after drawing with Brazil and defeating Scotland and Haiti. However, Brazil’s superior goal difference meant the Atlas Lions had to settle for second place in Group C. Their reward is a Round of 32 clash against the winner of Group F, which could be either the Netherlands, Japan, or Sweden depending on the outcome of the final group matches.

For Haiti, the result brought an end to a memorable World Cup journey. Although they leave the tournament without a point, they earned widespread admiration for their fearless football, scoring twice against one of Africa’s strongest sides and pushing Morocco to the limit. Veteran goalkeeper Johny Placide received an emotional farewell, while Wilson Isidor’s spectacular goal will live long in Haitian football folklore.

Morocco march on, but this was far from a routine qualification. The Atlas Lions showed resilience, attacking quality, and depth from the bench, yet they were also reminded that the margin for error narrows significantly once the knockout rounds begin.