Ounahi scored the opening goal five minutes into the second half on Friday, and Morocco went on to beat Canada 3-0 in the World Cup last 16.
The result sent Canada out of the tournament after a match that looked very different before the break. Canada dominated the first half and Morocco managed just one touch in Canada's box, but Ounahi's goal quickly changed the tone of the game.
That was the decisive moment in a contest Canada believed it had handled for long stretches. Jesse Marsch said after the match that Canada had "totally controlled the match" and that his team was "the ones more likely to win the game," adding that "goals change games" and allowed Morocco to sit back. He also said, "I challenged the players to understand that we can play like this all the time."
Marsch had already said before the tournament that Canada would have been satisfied to reach the last 16, and he repeated after the loss that "in terms of making the country proud the players couldn’t have done more." He also pointed to a "bad giveaway" and said, "I don’t think the foul was necessary."
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi responded to the post-match discussion by saying, "It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-0," while also referencing the team's "intensity." The final score, though, was the clearest answer. Once Ounahi opened the scoring, Morocco took control and finished the job with a three-goal margin.
For Canada, the match also came in the shadow of Alphonso Davies' tournament absence. Davies felt discomfort in training on Friday, a scan showed no injury and he was not risked, after playing 16 minutes against South Africa in the last 32. Morocco's win moved the focus back to Ounahi, who continues to be a key figure for his country after performances that have already kept him in the conversation in recent World Cup coverage.
