Morocco grab late equaliser in hard-fought Ecuador draw

Morocco needed a late surge to avoid defeat but showed character in a 1–1 draw with Ecuador in Madrid, another important step in fine-tuning their squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side dominated large spells yet had to come from behind to salvage a result.

After a goalless first half in which Morocco controlled possession and created the better openings, Ecuador struck first shortly after the restart. John Yeboah finished clinically in the 48th minute from a Gonzalo Plata assist, punishing a rare lapse in the Moroccan back line.

Morocco kept pushing, with Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz increasingly influential in the final third, while the North Africans finished with 12 shots to Ecuador’s 7 and fashioned the clearer chances. Their pressure was finally rewarded on 88 minutes when Neil El Aynaoui arrived from midfield to slot home the equaliser after good work from Hakimi on the right.

The 1–1 draw extends Morocco’s impressive unbeaten run and offers more valuable data for Mohamed Ouahbi’s staff. Next up is another friendly against Paraguay on Tuesday, a further key test on the road to the 2026 World Cup.