Morocco beats Haiti 4-2: Hakimi shines but defensive concerns loom

The central figure of the match is this: 3.262 expected goals for Morocco, with 22 shots, 11 on target. That’s enormous. The Lions didn’t win simply through realism or a closed match: they genuinely created danger. The 9 corners, 22 crosses and 15 shot-creating actions show a team that imposed the game heavily in Haiti’s half.

On Bladi.net : Morocco Haiti Match Analysis: Shot Accuracy Problem Revealed

But the other reading is less comfortable: despite this dominance, Morocco conceded two goals. Against Haiti, that passes. Against a stronger team in the knockout phase, this type of match can become dangerous. So watch out for Japan or the Netherlands—they won’t forgive.

Hakimi, the true offensive leader

The best Moroccan player of the match is clearly Achraf Hakimi. Opta gives him 10/10, and it’s not just because he scored. His statistics show he was Morocco’s main offensive engine: 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, 3 on target, 9 crosses and 7 shot-creating actions.

It’s almost a winger’s performance, not just a fullback’s. Of the 15 shot-creating actions by Morocco, Hakimi generates 7 himself. That means nearly half of Morocco’s danger comes through him. That’s enormous strength, but also a dependency: when Hakimi is so central, the team becomes very predictable if the opponent manages to shut down his flank.

Saibari and El Khannouss, two very useful profiles

Ismael Saibari was the other very interesting player. He scored, attempted frequently, and finished with 5 shots and 0.730 xG. He’s the profile that brings projection, presence in the box and verticality. He didn’t have huge passing volume, but he made an impact where it counts: in dangerous areas.

Bilal El Khannouss played a different role. With 72 passes, 3 shot-creating actions, 3 crosses and 3 tackles, he was more about control and linking play. His match is less spectacular than Hakimi’s, but he provides structure. He’s probably one of the players who allowed Morocco to maintain control despite a sometimes disjointed match.

The bench made the difference

The important positive point is the impact of substitutes. Soufiane Rahimi came on and finished with 1 goal and 1 assist in just 20 minutes. That’s very strong. Gessime Yassine also scored after coming on. So Morocco didn’t just win with its starters: it also found energy and efficiency from the bench.

That’s an important signal for what’s ahead, especially if the staff wants to manage fatigue. Some starters have already played a lot, and this match shows there are credible solutions to rotate without dropping offensive levels.

The dark spot: the two goals conceded

Morocco produced enough to score four goals, but didn’t defend like a completely confident team. Bounou finishes with the worst Opta rating on Morocco’s side: 4.70, with two goals conceded and only one save. That shows Haiti didn’t necessarily need a big volume to hurt them.

The problem isn’t just individual. When a team dominates this much, shoots 22 times, gets 9 corners and keeps the ball a lot, it shouldn’t let the opponent come back into the match so easily. There were probably spaces at the back, poorly managed transitions or a letdown after Morocco’s strong periods.

It’s a deserved victory and offensively very encouraging. Morocco showed variety, depth, an exceptional Hakimi, a dangerous Saibari, a clean El Khannouss and a decisive bench.

On Bladi.net : Morocco crosses Haiti World Cup aerial threat analysis

But this 4-2 isn’t a perfect match. The real warning is that Morocco can dominate heavily and still concede two goals. Going forward, they’ll need to keep this offensive strength while correcting transition management and weak moments. Against Haiti, that delivers a spectacular victory. Against a stronger opponent, it could cost much more.