Atlas Lions Roar in Lens: Morocco Secures 2-1 Victory Over Paraguay

LENS, FRANCE – In a high-intensity international friendly at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Morocco’s national football team continued their impressive form under head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, defeating a resilient Paraguay side 2-1. The match, held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, served as a crucial preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

A Tale of Two Halves

The first half was a tactical chess match. Morocco dominated possession (holding nearly 71%), but struggled to break down a compact Paraguayan defense led by Gustavo Gómez and Omar Alderete. Despite the control, it was Paraguay who nearly broke the deadlock early on; Yassine "Bono" Bounou was forced into a spectacular double save in the 21st minute to deny efforts from Juan Cáceres and Damián Bobadilla.

The game entered the halftime break scoreless, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance but lacking the final clinical touch.

Second-Half Surge

The second half saw a more urgent Moroccan side. The breakthrough came quickly in the 48th minute when Bilal El Khannouss found the back of the net after a precise assist from captain Achraf Hakimi. The "Atlas Lions" didn't let up, and just five minutes later in the 53rd minute, Neil El Aynaoui doubled the lead, again assisted by a relentless Hakimi.

With a 2-0 cushion, Morocco looked comfortable, though they were forced to stay alert as Paraguay threw numbers forward. Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz entered the fray in the 66th minute, adding more flair to the Moroccan attack, though the team shifted focus to game management in the closing stages.

Late Drama

Paraguay refused to go quietly. In the 85th minute, Omar Alderete thought he had pulled one back with a header, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review. However, the South American side did find a lifeline in the 88th minute when substitute Gustavo Caballero scored a header from a Juan José Cáceres cross, setting up a frantic final few minutes of stoppage time.

Morocco held firm through six minutes of additional time to secure the win, ending their March international window unbeaten following a previous -1 draw with Ecuador.

Match Summary

• Final Score: Morocco 2 - 1 Paraguay

• Goals (Morocco): Bilal El Khannouss (48'), Neil El Aynaoui (53')

• Goals (Paraguay): Gustavo Caballero (88')

• Venue: Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens (France)

• Attendance: 38,223

Lineups

• Morocco (4-1-4-1): Bounou; Hakimi (El-Ouahdi), Diop, Halhal, Salah-Eddine (El Karouani); El Mourabet (Hrimat); Talbi (Ezzalzouli), El Aynaoui, El Khannouss, Yassine (Adli); Rahimi.

• Paraguay (4-4-2): Gill; Cáceres, G. Gómez, Alderete, Alonso; D. Gómez, Bobadilla, Ojeda (Mauricio), Almirón (Caballero); Ávalos (Sanabria), Enciso.

The victory marks a successful start for Mohamed Ouahbi, whose squad looks increasingly ready for the global stage as they prepare for a World Cup group that includes football giants Brazil.