World Cup 2026: Sunday Oliseh claims Morocco would have beaten Brazil with Osimhen or Lookman

Former Super Eagles captain and coach Sunday Oliseh believes Morocco missed a golden opportunity to defeat Brazil in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup because they lacked a clinical finisher in the mould of Nigeria stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Morocco impressed in a 1-1 draw against the five-time world champions in New Jersey, producing one of the standout performances of the tournament’s opening weekend. The Atlas Lions dominated large periods of the contest and deservedly took the lead through Ismaël Saibari after a brilliant team move. Brazil needed a moment of individual brilliance from Vinicius Junior to rescue a point.

The African champions created numerous problems for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and exposed weaknesses in Brazil’s midfield and defence. Many observers felt Morocco were the better team on the night, with their pace, movement and tactical organisation causing constant difficulties for the South Americans.

Reacting to the performance on X, Oliseh praised Morocco’s structure and confidence but suggested that a proven goalscorer like Osimhen or Lookman could have turned dominance into victory.

“An impressive performance from this Moroccan team, well-structured both defensively and offensively,” Oliseh wrote.

“If this team had had players like Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman against Brazil, they could have won 3-1 at the very least. Brazil put up a good fight and, thank God, they had Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha. I loved the confidence and development of the Moroccans.”

Oliseh’s comments reflect the growing reputation of both Nigerian forwards. Osimhen has established himself as one of the world’s most feared strikers thanks to his finishing ability, aerial strength and relentless movement, while Lookman has become one of Africa’s most effective attacking players after a series of impressive performances for club and country.

Morocco’s display against Brazil nevertheless reinforced their status as one of Africa’s strongest teams. Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the Atlas Lions have continued to build on the success of their historic 2022 World Cup semi-final run and showed they can compete with the very best nations in the world.

The draw leaves Group C finely balanced heading into the second round of matches. Morocco will now turn their attention to Scotland, knowing a victory could put them in a commanding position to qualify for the knockout stages. Brazil, meanwhile, will be expected to bounce back when they face Haiti.

While Morocco earned widespread praise for their performance, Oliseh’s verdict was clear: with the finishing power of Osimhen or Lookman leading the line, the Atlas Lions might have celebrated one of the biggest victories of the World Cup so far.