Morocco’s Players to Watch Against Scotland — And Why England Should Take Note

Scotland beat Haiti in their World Cup opener, but Morocco represent a completely different challenge. Ranked 6th in the world, the Atlas Lions held Brazil to a draw in their first match and arrive for this second group game full of confidence and quality. Morocco have the players to hurt anyone in this tournament — and England, watching closely from their own group, should be paying close attention.

Yassine Bounou: The Goalkeeper Scotland Cannot Afford to Give Chances To (Age 35, Al-Hilal)

53 clean sheets in 90 international appearances. Bounou is arguably the finest goalkeeper in African football history, and he arrives at the 2026 World Cup still at the peak of his powers at 35. In Qatar 2022, he saved two penalties against Spain in the round of 16, producing one of the great individual World Cup performances.

For Scotland to get anything from this match, they will need to be clinical in front of goal against one of the toughest goalkeepers in the tournament. Morocco are built to defend and counter, which means Bounou may face a limited number of shots — but every single one will matter.

Achraf Hakimi: The Best Right-Back in the World Is Playing in This Group

PSG’s Achraf Hakimi is, by any reasonable measure, one of the top two or three right-backs on the planet. At 26, he combines explosive pace, precise crossing and a genuine goal threat — a package that consistently causes problems for opposition defences at the highest level of the game.

Against Brazil in their opener, Hakimi was relentless down the right flank, creating overloads and forcing the Brazilian backline into constant defensive decisions. Scotland’s left side faces a serious examination. If Hakimi gets behind them even twice in 90 minutes, Morocco will make it count.

Youssef En-Nesyri: The Striker Who Knocked Out Portugal and Has Not Stopped

En-Nesyri scored the goal that eliminated Portugal at the 2022 World Cup quarter-final — a towering header that silenced Cristiano Ronaldo and sent Morocco into the last four. Now at Fenerbahçe, the 28-year-old arrives at the 2026 World Cup as Morocco’s primary goal threat.

Dominant in the air, sharp when running in behind the defensive line, and dangerous at set-pieces — En-Nesyri is everything a top-level number nine needs to be. Scotland’s centre-backs must be at their absolute best across the full 90 minutes to keep him scoreless.

Hakim Ziyech: The One Nobody Can Read or Contain

Technically one of the most gifted players in African football, Ziyech brings genuine unpredictability and creativity to Morocco’s attack. At 32, his left foot remains exceptional: he can split a defence with a single pass, shoot from range without warning, or take on defenders in tight spaces and come out the other side.

Ziyech operates between the lines and drifts across positions, making him almost impossible to track man-for-man. Scotland’s midfield will need to stay compact and disciplined for the full game — the moment Ziyech drops into a pocket of space unmarked, the danger is immediate and real.

FAQ