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Rabat – Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou insisted that the Atlas Lions will approach their upcoming FIFA World Cup clash against Haiti with the same determination and focus that has guided them throughout the tournament, after securing a crucial 1-0 victory over Scotland.
“We treat every match with the same seriousness and concentration, and our goal is always to win,” Bounou told reporters after the final whistle. “We have already turned the page on Scotland and started thinking about the Haiti game. We will face them with the same spirit and the same mentality, and hopefully success will be on our side.”
The experienced shot-stopper also commended his teammates for their disciplined performance against a resilient Scottish side, saying that patience proved decisive.
“The opponent was not easy. We respected them a lot. They dropped back defensively, but we didn’t rush. We took our time, attacked well, created chances, and thank God we scored the goal. I want to congratulate everyone,” he said.
Morocco made the perfect start to the contest, stunning Scotland after just 70 seconds when Ismael Saibari found the back of the net with the fastest goal of the tournament.
Read also: World Cup: Morocco’s Rise Continues Amid Tight FIFA Ranking Battle
Despite the early setback, Scotland responded with an aggressive and physical display in an attempt to force their way back into the game. However, Mohamed Ouahbi’s side remained organized defensively while continuing to create opportunities on the counterattack and through sustained spells of possession.
The Atlas Lions could have won by a wider margin, wasting several clear scoring chances throughout the match, but Saibari’s early strike ultimately proved enough to secure all three points.
The victory moves Morocco to four points in Group C after opening their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Brazil also sit on four points after defeating Haiti 3-0, remaining top of the group on goal difference.
Scotland and Haiti occupy the bottom two places in the standings, leaving both sides under pressure heading into the final round of group-stage fixtures.
Morocco will now turn their attention to Haiti next week, knowing that another positive result could secure their place in the knockout stages. Judging by Bounou’s comments, the Atlas Lions have no intention of underestimating their next opponents despite the difference in the standings.
