Following Morocco’s emphatic victory over Canada, Arsenal great, Thierry Henry lavished praises over the African team, calling them potential World Cup winners.
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.
It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.
Henry said of the side: “I think Morocco should be a team named in Europe. What are these guys on. The level they’re showing is unbelievable.
“This is back-to-back World Cups with a place in the quarter-finals. That’s no longer a surprise, that’s consistency. You have to respect that.
“People said beating the Netherlands was luck. Well, you can still call it luck now. At some point you have to stop looking for excuses and admit they’re simply a top team.
“The way they play, the discipline, the confidence and the hunger… they now look like they’re the Brazil of Africa. Every opponent knows they’re in for a battle.
“Maybe France are the only team I’d confidently back against them, just maybe… But if it’s any other nation, I honestly believe Morocco have every chance of going through.
“We’re now at a point where asking if an African country can win the World Cup doesn’t sound unrealistic anymore. Morocco are making that dream look possible.
“They fear nobody, they respect everybody and they play every game believing they can win. That’s the mentality of champions.
“If they keep playing like this, I won’t be surprised if they become the first African nation to lift the World Cup. Right now, they look capable of beating anybody,” Henry added.
