Morocco are through to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage after twice coming from behind to beat Haiti 4-2 in a chaotic Group C finale.
The Atlas Lions finished second behind Brazil and will face the winners of Group F in the Round of 32, but this was not the smooth send-off they would have wanted. Haiti, already eliminated before kick-off, played with freedom, pride and enough sharpness to expose Morocco before late goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine finally settled the match.
Haiti struck first after 10 minutes when Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was credited with an own goal. Morocco responded through Achraf Hakimi in the 39th minute, but Haiti hit back almost immediately as Wilson Isidor restored their lead in the 43rd minute.
That lead did not last long either.
Ismael Saibari pulled Morocco level in first-half stoppage time, making it 2-2 before the break and keeping Morocco’s qualification push under control. ESPN’s match record lists Morocco’s goals through Hakimi, Saibari, Rahimi and Yassine, with Haiti’s goals coming through Bounou’s own goal and Isidor.
The second half became a test of Morocco’s patience. Haiti kept fighting for a first point of the tournament, while Morocco pushed for the goal that would remove the danger from the night.
It finally came in the 78th minute when Rahimi scored to put Morocco in front for the first time. Yassine then added the fourth in the 89th minute to end Haiti’s resistance and confirm Morocco’s place in the next round. AP reported that Rahimi and Yassine came off the bench to help Morocco rally to the 4-2 victory.
For Morocco, the win extended their World Cup campaign but also exposed issues they must address quickly. They conceded twice to a team already out of the tournament and needed late pressure to finish the job. Against stronger knockout opposition, that kind of defensive looseness could be punished more brutally.
Still, the main mission was completed.
Morocco leave Group C with seven points, level with Brazil but behind the five-time world champions on goal difference. Haiti exit with no points, but they did not leave quietly. Their performance gave their supporters something to hold onto after a difficult group-stage campaign.
For African football, it was another important result in a tournament that has already produced major moments for the continent. Morocco are alive. South Africa are alive. The pressure now shifts from making history to surviving knockout football.
Morocco got there the hard way.
Now they must prove they can stay there.
