Friendlies: Jawad El Yamiq rescues Morocco late in narrow win over BahrainJawad El Yamiq rescues Morocco late in narrow win over Bahrain

Morocco edged past Bahrain 1-0 in a friendly match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Thursday, thanks to a dramatic late strike from defender Jawad El Yamiq.

Despite fielding a strong side, the Atlas Lions struggled to impose themselves for much of the encounter against a disciplined Bahraini outfit.

Bahrain’s defensive organisation frustrated Morocco, as their compact structure — reinforced by midfielders and forwards constantly dropping deep — effectively neutralised the hosts’ attacking threats throughout the first half.

Morocco dominated possession but failed to translate their control into clear-cut opportunities.

Their approach play often broke down in the final third, with Bahrain’s backline proving difficult to penetrate.

The visiting side, content to sit deep and absorb pressure, rarely ventured forward but remained defensively resilient.

After a goalless first half, head coach Walid Regragui introduced several substitutes in an attempt to inject creativity and pace into Morocco’s attack.

However, despite the fresh legs, the home side continued to find openings hard to come by as Bahrain’s defensive shape held firm.

As frustration grew on the touchline, Regragui’s men pressed harder in the closing stages, desperate to avoid an uninspiring stalemate.

Their persistence finally paid off deep into stoppage time when Jawad El Yamiq rose highest during a late set-piece scramble to power home the decisive goal.

The dramatic finish spared Morocco from what would have been an underwhelming result on home soil and ensured a morale-boosting win ahead of their upcoming competitive fixtures.

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While the Atlas Lions will be relieved to have come away with victory, the performance left much to be desired, with Regragui likely to demand sharper attacking execution and greater urgency in future matches.

For Bahrain, the narrow defeat reflected a disciplined and tactically astute display, as they succeeded in frustrating one of Africa’s top sides for nearly the entire match before succumbing in the final moments.

El Yamiq’s late winner sealed the result, but Morocco’s overall display highlighted the need for improvement if they are to rediscover the attacking flair that carried them to global recognition in recent years.

Morocco 1–0 Bahrain (El Yamiq 90+’).