Saibari Makes World Cup History As Morocco Edge Scotland

Saibari Makes World Cup History As Morocco Edge Scotland

By BSN Sports 

Morocco boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Scotland in their second Group C match, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Atlas Lions entered the contest seeking their first win of the tournament after opening their campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil. The result against Scotland moves Morocco to four points and puts them in a strong position to qualify for the Round of 32.

Head coach Walid Regragui retained the same starting lineup that earned a point against Brazil, while Scotland made three changes, bringing Ryan Christie, Nathan Patterson and Kieran Tierney into the side.

Morocco made a bright start and were rewarded early when Ismael Saibari broke through the Scottish defence to score the game's only goal.

The PSV Eindhoven midfielder's strike also secured his place in the history books. According to Opta, Saibari became only the second African player to score in each of his first two FIFA World Cup appearances, matching a feat previously achieved by Egypt's Mohamed Salah.

The African champions continued to threaten and created several promising opportunities before the break but were unable to extend their advantage.

Scotland responded with greater urgency in the second half and enjoyed their best spell of the match as they pushed for an equaliser. However, Morocco's disciplined defence stood firm under pressure and denied the Scots a route back into the contest.

At the final whistle, Morocco celebrated a crucial victory that not only secured their first three points of the tournament but also moved them a significant step closer to qualification for the knockout rounds.