By Joke Kujenya
MOROCCO FOOTBALL team produced a dramatic late comeback before holding their nerve in a penalty shootout to eliminate the Netherlands and book a place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Atlas Lions triumphed 3-2 on penalties after a pulsating 1-1 draw following extra time in Monterrey, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerging as the hero after saving the decisive spot-kick from Crysencio Summerville.
Forward Ismael Saibari then converted Morocco’s winning penalty to send the North Africans into the last 16, where they will face Canada in Houston on Saturday.
The knockout contest appeared to be slipping away from Morocco after Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch the lead in the 72nd minute.
Gakpo finished from close range after being picked out by Summerville, capping a move that followed the introduction of substitute Wout Weghorst, whose flick-on initiated the attack.
The Liverpool forward’s emotional celebration reflected a difficult period off the pitch, coming days after he and his partner announced the loss of their unborn child.
Despite falling behind, Morocco refused to surrender and found an equaliser deep into stoppage time.
Defender Issa Diop rose unmarked to head home from a cross delivered by substitute Chemsdine Talbi in the first minute of added time, sending the tie into extra time.
Morocco had threatened throughout the contest, with Bounou and Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen both producing outstanding saves to keep their sides in the match.
Earlier, Verbruggen denied Neil El Aynaoui and tipped a powerful effort from Achraf Hakimi over the crossbar, while Bounou prevented Micky van de Ven from scoring with a superb save before half-time.
Extra time produced further chances, with Verbruggen making another outstanding stop to deny Soufiane Rahimi as both sides searched for a winner.
The tie was ultimately decided from the penalty spot.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the Netherlands converted through Teun Koopmeiners and Weghorst but missed three of their five attempts after Justin Kluivert and Quinten Timber failed to score before Bounou denied Summerville.
Morocco also stumbled early when El Aynaoui struck the crossbar and Hakimi missed, but successful penalties from Rahimi, Talbi and Saibari completed a memorable comeback.
The result extended Morocco’s impressive World Cup campaign and underlined the resilience that has become a hallmark of the Atlas Lions on the global stage.
For the Netherlands, the defeat marked a painful end to a match in which they controlled long spells but failed to convert their dominance into victory before the shootout.
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