Morocco equal Spain’s 15-winning world record with late win over Bahrain

The Moroccan national team extended its remarkable run with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Bahrain in a friendly match on Thursday, equaling Spain’s world record of 15 consecutive wins for a national side.

Defender Jawad El Yamiq sealed the historic triumph for the Atlas Lions with a towering header in the 94th minute at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where more than 55,000 fans turned out to cheer their team.

Hakimi Takes the Lead

Captain Achraf Hakimi, deployed in a more creative role than usual, dictated Morocco’s tempo from midfield. The Paris Saint-Germain star orchestrated most of the attacks, linking defense and attack seamlessly and serving as the team’s driving force throughout the first half.

Head coach Walid Regragui was forced to improvise due to several key absences, including defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd, as well as midfielders Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi. In their place, Regragui handed opportunities to fringe players and rising talents — Youssef Belamri, Bilal El Khannous, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, Ismail Saibari, and Nael El Aynaoui — five of whom were part of the Olympic bronze-medal squad from Paris 2024.

Dominance Without Reward

Morocco dominated from the outset, pressing high and hemming Bahrain into their own half. Hakimi’s early crosses caused chaos, while Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi both came close to breaking the deadlock. Yet, despite overwhelming possession and pressure, the Atlas Lions’ impatience in front of goal frustrated their coach.

Bahrain, well-organized defensively, adopted a deep-lying “park the bus” approach, relying on counterattacks and physical play to slow Morocco’s rhythm. The visitors’ resistance held firm through the first half, with Ezzalzouli rattling the crossbar and El Kaabi missing a golden chance to open the scoring.

Late Drama

The second half followed a familiar pattern: Moroccan dominance met with Bahraini resilience. Regragui introduced fresh legs — including Akhomach, Talbi, and Ben Seghir — in pursuit of a breakthrough, and his side’s possession rose to 79 percent.

The pressure nearly paid off when Youssef En-Nesyri missed an easy chance late on, and the Bahraini goalkeeper produced a heroic save to deny his header in the 93rd minute. Moments later, El Yamiq finally broke the deadlock, soaring above the defense to nod home the winner from a corner.

The dramatic finish sent the Rabat crowd into delirium and wrote Morocco into football history, matching Spain’s iconic winning streak from 2009.

A Golden Era for Moroccan Football

Under Regragui, Morocco is enjoying a golden period built on tactical discipline, squad depth, and confidence. The team’s balance of defensive solidity and attacking flair has made the Atlas Lions one of Africa’s strongest contenders heading into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which they will host.

Following their groundbreaking semi-final run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morocco continues to symbolize the resurgence of African football on the global stage. With belief, quality, and national unity, the Atlas Lions are now targeting their next great milestone — reclaiming the continental title last won in 1976.