World Cup 2026: Morocco pin hopes on ‘The Octopus’ Yassine Bounou against France

Morocco will once again look to the safe hands of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou as the Atlas Lions prepare for a blockbuster FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash against France on Thursday, with the veteran shot-stopper expected to play a decisive role in their quest for another historic milestone.

Nicknamed “The Octopus” for his extraordinary reflexes and commanding presence between the posts, Bounou has remained Morocco’s guardian angel since their unforgettable run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, where they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four of football’s biggest tournament.

Now, nearly four years later, the Atlas Lions have once again reached the quarter-finals, becoming the first African and Arab side to achieve the feat in back-to-back World Cups. As they prepare to face France in Boston, much of the country’s hopes rest on the shoulders of the experienced Al-Hilal goalkeeper.

Despite the growing expectations, the 35-year-old remains composed.

“We take each match as it comes, correcting our mistakes and avoiding repeating them in each one, all in our desire to continue our journey,” Bounou said after helping Morocco secure their place in the last eight.

The backbone of Morocco’s success

Bounou has been instrumental throughout Morocco’s campaign, producing crucial saves from the opening 1-1 draw against Brazil before delivering another heroic display in the penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands in the Round of 32.

He was equally outstanding in the Round of 16 victory over Canada, where he denied Steven Eustáquio directly from a corner before making brilliant one-on-one saves to frustrate Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi during Canada’s early onslaught.

His performances have earned widespread praise from teammates and football legends alike.

Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui credited the goalkeeper for Morocco’s success, saying:

“Bono kept us in the game with his incredible saves.”

Arab legends hail Bounou

Former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary described Bounou as the greatest Arab goalkeeper in history.

“I take my hat off to Yassine Bono. He is a world-class goalkeeper and deserves all the recognition he receives,” El-Hadary said.

“He’s not just half of the team—he’s 85% of it. With all due respect to the other players, he’s a goalkeeper who makes the difference.”

The former African champion even revised his long-held opinion about his own status.

“I used to say I was the greatest goalkeeper in the Arab world, but now I say it clearly: No, Bono is the best Arab goalkeeper in history.”

Saudi goalkeeping legend Mohammed Al-Deayea echoed those sentiments after Morocco’s victory over Canada.

“I see him as the star of the Moroccan national team. Without him, Morocco would have lost. He saved them during the most difficult moments of the match. I consider him the best goalkeeper in the world right now.”

From Wydad to world football

Bounou’s rise to global prominence has been years in the making.

He made his senior breakthrough with Wydad Casablanca before joining Atlético Madrid in 2012. Although opportunities were limited in Spain’s capital, successful loan spells with Real Zaragoza and Girona paved the way for his move to Sevilla.

It was at Sevilla where he announced himself as one of Europe’s elite goalkeepers, inspiring the Spanish side to UEFA Europa League triumphs in 2020 and 2023 with a series of remarkable performances, including decisive penalty saves in knockout matches.

His exploits earned him the La Liga Best Goalkeeper Award in 2022 ahead of Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Atlético Madrid’s Jan Oblak.

Following the 2022 World Cup, Bounou completed a move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal, where he has continued to showcase his brilliance on both the domestic and international stage.

Morocco’s biggest weapon

As France stand between Morocco and another historic World Cup semi-final appearance, Bounou will once again be expected to inspire his side.

His calm personality, leadership, experience and remarkable shot-stopping ability have transformed him into one of the finest goalkeepers in world football, with Morocco hoping “The Octopus” can produce another masterclass to keep their World Cup dream alive.