Ismael Saibari wrote his name into Moroccan football history on Friday by scoring after just 71 seconds, the fastest goal ever recorded by the Atlas Lions in a FIFA World Cup finals match.
The early strike secured a valuable 1-0 victory for Morocco against Scotland in their Group C clash at the 2026 World Cup in Boston.
Saibari’s goal surpassed the previous Moroccan record held by Hakim Ziyech, who scored after 3 minutes and 30 seconds against Canada during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
At this stage of the tournament, the Moroccan midfielder’s effort also stands as the fastest goal scored at the 2026 World Cup.
The victory lifts Morocco provisionally to the top of Group C with four points and moves the Atlas Lions closer to qualification for the knockout stage.
Speaking after the match, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and highlighted the progress made since their opening game against Brazil.
“I am satisfied. I noticed improvement compared to the first match, and that is the most important thing for me,” Ouahbi said during the post-match press conference.
The Moroccan coach praised his side’s dominance, collective organization and attacking intent, noting that the team created several scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Ouahbi acknowledged that Morocco faced some pressure in the closing stages but said tactical adjustments helped contain Scotland’s direct approach.
Looking ahead, the coach stressed that qualification has not yet been secured and insisted that Morocco’s focus remains on winning their final group match against Haiti.
