BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Morocco once again carried the hopes of a continent on their shoulders and delivered in style, becoming the first African nation in history to reach consecutive FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada on Saturday.

The Atlas Lions, who captivated the world with their historic fourth-place finish at Qatar 2022, wrote another chapter in African football folklore by becoming the first team to book a place in the last eight of the 2026 World Cup.

The achievement carried added symbolism. Morocco, the first country to recognise the United States 250 years ago, secured their quarter-final berth on the very weekend America celebrated the 250th anniversary of its independence, creating a remarkable historical connection between the two nations.

Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi was the architect of Canada’s downfall, scoring twice in a devastating second-half display, while substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a late third to seal one of Morocco’s most emphatic World Cup victories.

The result ended the dream run of co-hosts Canada, whose journey to the Round of 16 represented the country’s best-ever World Cup campaign.

For much of the first half, Morocco appeared content to absorb pressure and frustrate the Canadians. The Atlas Lions were forced to overcome an early setback when striker Ismael Saibari, who had scored three goals in the tournament, limped off with a hamstring injury.

But Mohamed Ouahbi’s side emerged from the interval with renewed purpose and ruthlessness.

The breakthrough came in the 50th minute from a brilliantly rehearsed free-kick routine. Captain Achraf Hakimi rolled a low pass from the right to Ounahi, who calmly guided a first-time effort from outside the area into the bottom corner, sending Moroccan supporters into celebration.

Canada pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but their ambition left spaces that Morocco exploited with devastating efficiency.

Eight minutes from time, a lightning counterattack saw Brahim Diaz provide the final pass for Ounahi, who unleashed a superb strike into the top corner to double the advantage.

The icing on the cake arrived late on when another rapid Moroccan break ended with Rahimi applying a composed finish to complete a memorable victory.

Remarkably, Morocco managed the feat despite registering only five shots, making them one of the most clinical teams of the tournament. While Canada enjoyed long spells of possession and territorial advantage, the North Africans demonstrated the efficiency and tactical discipline that have become hallmarks of their recent World Cup success.

The victory sends Morocco into the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history, but significantly it marks the first time an African nation has reached that stage in consecutive World Cups.

Having already broken barriers for African football in Qatar four years ago, the Atlas Lions continue to redefine what is possible for teams from the continent on the global stage.

Now, with momentum building and belief growing, Morocco will turn their attention to a quarter-final showdown against either France or Paraguay on July 9.

The dream that inspired Africa in 2022 is alive once more. And after another historic night, Morocco’s quest to surpass their celebrated fourth-place finish and challenge for an even greater prize remains very much on course.

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As France prepare for their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash with Paraguay, an intriguing piece of history hangs in the balance: who will score Les Bleus’ 150th goal in World Cup history?

The French national team currently stands on 149 World Cup goals, just one away from joining an elite group of footballing giants. Only three nations — Brazil, Germany and Argentina — have reached the prestigious 150-goal milestone on football’s grandest stage.

That leaves France on the cusp of becoming the fourth nation to achieve the feat.

Naturally, attention turns to who might claim the honour of scoring the landmark goal.

The obvious candidate is France captain Kylian Mbappé, whose name already dominates the World Cup record books. The prolific forward has been France’s leading attacking weapon throughout the tournament and would be a fitting player to etch his name alongside one of the nation’s great World Cup milestones.

Yet football history has often shown that landmark goals can come from unexpected sources. A defender rising highest from a corner, a midfielder arriving late into the penalty area or a substitute making an instant impact could all become part of French football folklore with a single strike.

Whoever scores it will join a distinguished lineage stretching back through nearly a century of World Cup competition. France’s 149 goals have been supplied by generations of stars, from the legendary Just Fontaine and Michel Platini to Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Olivier Giroud and Mbappé.

The milestone would also underline France’s remarkable consistency on the world stage. Winners in 1998 and 2018, runners-up in 2006 and 2022, and perennial contenders in modern tournaments, Les Bleus have established themselves among the most prolific and successful teams in World Cup history.

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake against Paraguay, the race to score France’s 150th World Cup goal adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already high-stakes encounter.

The question now is simple: when France finally reach the landmark, whose name will be written into World Cup history?

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

When the final whistle sounded and Argentina finally emerged 3-2 winners after extra time, the scoreline told only part of the story.

The real story was not just that defending champions Argentina had advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup. It was that a tiny island nation of barely half a million people had pushed the world champions, and a record-breaking Lionel Messi, to the very edge.

For much of the football world, Cabo Verde were expected to be little more than spectators at the grandest stage of all. Making their FIFA World Cup debut, the Blue Sharks arrived in North America with little fanfare and few expectations.

By the time their remarkable journey ended against Argentina, they had become Africa’s Cinderella team and one of the most celebrated stories of the tournament.

From Praia to Buenos Aires, from Dakar to New York, football fans were united in admiration for a team that refused to be intimidated by reputations, rankings or history.

Against Argentina, the script appeared straightforward. On one side stood the reigning world champions, led by Messi, the greatest player of his generation and perhaps of all time. On the other stood a nation making its first appearance at the World Cup.

What many anticipated would be a routine Argentine victory became a gripping contest that required extra time before the South Americans could finally prevail.

Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina, exchanges words with Cabo Verde players after their dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 encounter. While Argentina eventually prevailed, the Blue Sharks earned global admiration for their fearless debut campaign, pushing the reigning champions to the limit and capping one of the tournament’s most inspiring underdog stories. PHOTO: FIFA/Getty Images.

In many ways, Cabo Verde achieved something that statistics cannot measure. They transformed themselves from tournament newcomers into global favourites.

Their courage forced Argentina to work harder than many expected. Their organisation frustrated one of football’s most potent attacks. Their belief never wavered, even when facing a side packed with world-class talent and carrying the burden of defending the title.

Ironically, a match that produced a collection of historic milestones for Messi also highlighted the extraordinary rise of Cabo Verde.

Messi became the first player ever to feature in the knockout stages of six different World Cups. He extended his record as the competition’s all-time leading scorer with his 20th goal and made a record 30th World Cup appearance. He also became the oldest South American player to score in a World Cup knockout match.

Yet while the headlines naturally celebrated another chapter in Messi’s remarkable career, many of the loudest conversations after the match were about the team that nearly derailed Argentina’s march.

For African football, Cabo Verde’s campaign represents something significant.

For decades, the continent’s World Cup hopes have largely rested on traditional powers such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. Cabo Verde arrived with none of that pedigree.

Yet they demonstrated that modern African football is no longer confined to established names.

Throughout the tournament, the Blue Sharks competed without fear. They faced former world champions Uruguay and Spain. They then confronted the reigning champions Argentina.

Remarkably, their only defeat came against Lionel Scaloni’s side.

That achievement alone underlines the scale of their accomplishment.

The tournament also provided moments of individual history.

Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha became the first African player aged 40 or older to appear in a World Cup knockout match. At 40 years and 30 days, he stood as a symbol of resilience and longevity, inspiring teammates young enough to be his sons.

His performances throughout the tournament reflected the character of the team itself — composed, courageous and determined.

Cabo Verde may not have lifted the trophy, but they captured something equally valuable: the imagination of football fans around the world.

Their journey echoed some of the greatest underdog stories in World Cup history. Like Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Morocco in 2022, they reminded the world that football’s magic often lies not in the triumphs of giants but in the dreams of outsiders.

For Africa, their campaign offers renewed hope.

For Cabo Verde, it offers proof that they belong among football’s elite.

And for the rest of the world, the Blue Sharks leave the tournament with something no scoreline can erase — respect.

Argentina continue their title defence. Messi continues to rewrite football history.

But long after the statistics are forgotten, FIFA World Cup 2026 will be remembered as the tournament where Cabo Verde arrived on the world stage and showed that even the smallest nation can dream big enough to challenge champions.

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