Saibari's calm penalty clinches Morocco's World Cup round‑of‑16 spot

Morocco secured a place in the World Cup round of 16 after Ismael Saibari calmly converted the final spot‑kick in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands. The striker, who featured for the full 90 minutes, delivered the decisive blow that sent the Atlas Lions through. Saibari remained on the pitch for the entire encounter before stepping up for the decisive spot‑kick. His shot found the net, sealing Morocco's progression. Reflecting on his preparation, Saibari said, “I already knew which corner I was going to kick. We had trained on it yesterday, so I knew exactly what to do.” He explained that placing the ball in a corner forces the keeper to choose the wrong side.

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After the successful conversion, Saibari ripped off his shirt and celebrated with the supporters gathered at the venue. He remarked, “Yes of course, you go through in a World Cup, you go to the round of 16, so of course there is a release, especially with the fight on the field.” Moments before the final whistle Saibari was involved in a clash that required stitches near his eyebrow. He later admitted, “I’m a bit hurt, but if this means we go through, I take it with pleasure.”

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The forward will leave PSV this summer to join Bayern Munich, a move confirmed ahead of the tournament. His performance in the shootout adds a high‑profile highlight to his final season with the Dutch club. Morocco now turns its attention to the upcoming round‑of‑16 match, aiming to build on the momentum generated by Saibari's decisive strike. The team will seek to replicate the composure displayed in the penalty shootout as they pursue a deeper World Cup run.