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Atlas Lions Meet Giant-Killers Syria in quarterfinals
Morocco to Win (1-0)
Tournament: FIFA Arab Cup, 2025 | Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
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The group stage is done, and the quarterfinals of the 11th FIFA Arab Cup are set. Kicking things off is an exciting Afro-Asian showdown between Syria and Morocco — both unbeaten so far. Morocco topped Group B with more wins, while Syria secured second place in Group A.
But with knockout football now in play, one of these undefeated sides will taste their first loss when they meet at Khalifa Stadium on Thursday at 8 PM IST.
Head-to-head Record: These two sides have met three times before — and Morocco have come out on top in every single one.
For the FIFA-ranked No. 10 side, the road to the quarterfinals was mostly smooth. Their only setback was a 0–0 draw with Oman, a match in which they played largely with 10 men. Morocco responded well and bounced back with an impressive win over Saudi Arabia, helped by the fact that the Falcons rested several key players.
El Berkaoui struck early to give the Atlas Lions control, and from that point onward it was a defensive masterclass, with Saudi Arabia limited to just one shot on target from 12 attempts. Across their three group games, Morocco showed they can win in multiple ways.
They broke teams open in their 3–1 victory over Comoros and held firm with disciplined defending against Oman and Saudi Arabia. Tarik Sektioui’s side look well prepared for whatever challenge comes next.
Morocco will again rely on Oussama Tannane’s creativity. The playmaker leads the tournament with two assists. Tarik Tissoudali, their top scorer with two goals, will be ready to take advantage of any opportunity. Together, they form the pair that keeps Morocco’s attack moving.
Morocco Probable Starting Lineup: Mehdi Benabid (GK), Boulacscout, Soufiane Bouftini, Saadane, Hamza El Moussaoui, Bach, Zouhzouh, Walid El Karti, Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, El Berkaoui, Tarik Tissoudali.
Syria have been one of the standout stories of this Arab Cup, bringing rare joy to a war-torn nation by reaching the knockouts for the first time. Their goalless draw with Palestine sealed qualification, a result both teams were content to protect since it guaranteed their progression.
Syria fully earned their place in the next round. They stunned Tunisia (1–0), a side ranked 46 places above them, and held Qatar (1–1), ranked 36 places higher. Having survived two of the toughest opponents in the tournament, Syria will not be intimidated by Morocco, even though the Atlas Lions are the highest-ranked team in the competition.
All eyes will be on Omar Khribin, the driving force behind Syria’s resurgence. He scored the winner against Tunisia and the dramatic equaliser versus Qatar, proving he thrives in big moments. If Syria are to shock Morocco, he is the player most likely to make it happen.
Syria Probable Starting Lineup: Hadaya (GK); Al Razak Mohammad, Faqa, Hannan, Kerdagli; Abraham, Simon Amin; Al Aswad, Mawas, Mohammad Al Salkhadi; Omar Khribin.
Putting rankings aside, both teams are solid defensively and difficult to break down. In attack, however, Morocco clearly hold the advantage, averaging 1.3 goals per game compared to Syria’s 0.7, supported by greater firepower and stronger knockout-stage experience. It is no surprise that the bookmakers favour the Atlas Lions at 1.40, with Syria at 7.00 and the draw at 4.50.
Morocco to Win (1-0)
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