Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh believes Morocco could have defeated Brazil if they had attacking players of the calibre of Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman in their squad.
Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh has praised Morocco’s performance against Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the Atlas Lions would have secured victory had they possessed forwards such as Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman.
Oliseh made the remarks on his official X account after Morocco held five-time world champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their Group C opener on Saturday.
Morocco Impress Against Brazil
The Atlas Lions produced another impressive display on the world stage and looked capable of securing all three points against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Morocco took the lead in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari latched onto a brilliant through ball from Brahim Diaz before delicately lifting the ball over Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Brazil, however, responded eleven minutes later through Vinícius Júnior, who fired home a superb strike to restore parity.
Despite Brazil’s equaliser, Morocco continued to trouble the South Americans with their organisation, intensity, and tactical discipline.
Oliseh Praises Morocco’s Structure
Reacting to the result, Oliseh hailed Morocco’s defensive and attacking balance and suggested that the North Africans lacked only a clinical finisher to secure a famous victory.
“Impressive performance by this Moroccan side, defensively and offensively well structured,” Oliseh wrote on X.
“Had this team had Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman-like players versus Brazil, they could have won by 3-1 at worst.”
The former Borussia Dortmund and Ajax midfielder also credited Brazil’s attacking stars for helping the Seleção avoid defeat.
“Brazil looked deceptive and thank God they had Vinícius Jr and Raphinha. I loved the belief and evolution from the Moroccans.”
Why Osimhen and Lookman Were Mentioned
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have emerged as two of Africa’s most dangerous attacking players in recent years.
Osimhen’s pace, movement, and finishing have established him as one of Europe’s leading strikers, while reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman has earned widespread praise for his goalscoring exploits and creativity in the final third.
Oliseh’s comments underline the importance of having elite attacking players capable of turning dominant performances into victories on football’s biggest stage.
Morocco Continue to Raise Expectations
Morocco entered the 2026 World Cup carrying high expectations after becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Their display against Brazil has further strengthened belief that the Atlas Lions could once again challenge the world’s elite nations.
The North Africans will now turn their attention to their next Group C fixture against Scotland on June 19, knowing that a victory could put them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.
Analysis
Sunday Oliseh’s comments may spark debate, but they highlight an important aspect of Morocco’s performance against Brazil.
The Atlas Lions demonstrated organisation, confidence, and tactical maturity throughout the match, but lacked the clinical edge needed to punish Brazil when opportunities arose.
For many observers, Morocco once again proved that African teams can compete with the very best on the global stage. The addition of a prolific goalscorer, as Oliseh suggested, might have been enough to turn an impressive draw into a memorable victory.
As the tournament progresses, Morocco have shown that they possess the quality and belief to challenge for another deep run at the FIFA World Cup.
