Hardwood timber
Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh has weighed in on Morocco’s 1-1 draw with Brazil in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, arguing that the African side could have turned dominance into victory if they had more clinical attackers. The Group C clash at the New York/New Jersey Stadium saw Morocco take the lead through Ismael Saibari before Brazil responded via Vinicius Jr, forcing both sides to settle for a point in a tightly contested encounter.
Morocco’s dominance undone by poor finishing
Morocco controlled large phases of the game and created several clear openings but failed to convert enough chances to punish the five-time world champions. They registered 14 attempts with only three on target, while Brazil managed five shots on target from 12 efforts.
Despite their strong structure and attack, Morocco lacked the decisive final touch in the box. Reacting to the performance, Oliseh praised the Atlas Lions’ overall organisation but pointed to their forward line as the key difference-maker. “Impressive performance by this Moroccan side, defensively and offensively well structured. Had this team had Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman-like players versus Brazil, they could have won by three goals to one at worst,” Oliseh wrote on X. Brazil escape with point as gaps exposed
Oliseh also suggested Brazil were far from their best, despite having moments of individual brilliance that kept them in the game. He singled out the influence of Vinicius Jr and Raphinha, noting that their quality masked broader issues in the team’s overall performance.
“Brazil looking deceptive and thank God they had Vinícius Jr and Raphinha. I loved the belief and evolution from the Moroccans,” he added. The result leaves both teams with work to do in Group C, with Morocco set to face Scotland in their next fixture at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
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