At Franco Fanuzzi Stadium in Taranto, Italy, Morocco faced a do-or-die scenario in their final group stage match at the 2026 Mediterranean Games. Only a commanding win over North Macedonia would be enough to leapfrog Turkey in the standings and clinch a semifinal berth.
Hamza Raji wasted no time. The Berkane midfielder struck in the opening minute, giving Morocco an immediate lead. North Macedonia hit back just four minutes later, leveling at 1-1 and briefly throwing Morocco’s campaign into doubt.
Momentum shifted again before halftime. Rayan Zinebi Talbi, the Granada forward, restored Morocco’s advantage in the 37th minute, sending the Atlas Lions’ U23s into the break with a slender lead. The second half belonged to Morocco. Mohamed Mounssef of Wydad Casablanca doubled the margin in the 59th minute, settling nerves on the touchline.
Morocco’s Second-Half Surge Seals Historic Qualification
The floodgates opened late. Karim Essaadi of Raja Casablanca made it 4-1 in the 79th minute. Six minutes later, Abdelghafour Gourari, another Berkane product, hammered home Morocco’s fifth.
A 5-1 rout on the scoreboard, but Morocco’s fate still hung in the balance. Eyes turned to the parallel clash between Tunisia and Turkey, with Group A’s second semifinal ticket up for grabs.
Word soon arrived: Tunisia had edged Turkey 2-1. Morocco and Turkey finished level on points, but Morocco’s superior goal difference, by a single goal, sent them through to the knockout stage behind group winners Tunisia.
Here’s how Group A finished:
| Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunisia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Morocco | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | edged Turkey by 1 | – |
| Turkey | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| N. Macedonia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
Morocco’s journey to the semifinals was anything but smooth. A 2-2 draw with Turkey in the opener, followed by a 1-0 loss to Tunisia, left them with no margin for error. They needed a statement win, and the 5-1 demolition of North Macedonia delivered just that.
Now, Morocco advances to face the winner of Group B. A North African derby with Algeria looms as a tantalizing possibility. The Atlas Lions, riding a wave of momentum, are one win away from the final.
