Sunday Oliseh, the former captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has expressed his belief that two Nigerian stars could have tipped the scales in Morocco’s favor during their 2026 World Cup opener against Brazil. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, saw Morocco dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities, but they failed to convert them into a win.
In his analysis, Oliseh pointed out that the Atlas Lions lacked a clinical finisher capable of capitalizing on their chances. He suggested that players with the attributes of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, both key figures for Nigeria, would have made a significant difference. According to Oliseh, if Morocco had forwards of such caliber, they could have secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Brazil.
During the Group C encounter at New York/New Jersey Stadium, Morocco’s Ismael Saibari opened the scoring, but Vinicius Jr equalized for Brazil. Despite registering 14 attempts on goal, only three were on target, while Brazil managed five from 12 attempts. Oliseh praised Morocco’s overall performance but noted their inefficiency in front of goal.
Oliseh also commented on Brazil’s display, describing them as deceptive despite their reputation. He acknowledged that Brazil relied heavily on the brilliance of Vinicius Jr and Raphinha to escape defeat. The former Nigeria international highlighted Morocco’s growth and confidence on the world stage.
Morocco’s next match is scheduled for June 19 against Scotland at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The team will look to build on their promising start in the tournament.