Round of 16 clash: Ouhabi warns no margin for error

Ahead of their knockout match on Saturday, Morocco’s manager Mohamed Ouhabi issued a stark warning: the team cannot afford a single slip against a well‑organized Canada. He described the fixture as "extremely tough" and said any lapse would end their tournament run.

Morocco’s journey has been marked by resilience, featuring a 1-1 stalemate with Brazil in the group stage and a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout triumph over the Netherlands. According to Ouhabi, every player is fully fit and will enter the field at 100 percent readiness.

The coach also addressed the scrutiny surrounding forward Brahim Diaz. While acknowledging that Diaz has not yet matched his previous tournament performances, Ouhabi highlighted the player’s contributions in defense and his relentless work ethic, promising more goal‑scoring chances ahead.

The two sides have faced each other four times, with Morocco never tasting defeat. Their last World Cup meeting in 2022 ended in a 2-1 Moroccan win. Ouhabi praised Canada’s disciplined approach, noting that a victory would make Morocco the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup quarter‑finals on more than one occasion.