Morocco Snatch Injury-Time Win Over Bahrain

Atlas Lions Break Bahrain Resistance in Friendly

Bahrain were edged out 1-0 by Morocco in an international friendly in Morocco’s capital, Rabat. The match remained goalless until the final minutes of injury time, when Jawad El Yamiq rose to head in the winner at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The Bahraini side were solid defensively for most of the 90 minutes, with goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfhallah making several important saves to keep the match level. The African giants, semifinalists at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and already qualified for the 2026 edition, dominated possession and tested Bahrain with a series of threatening attacks, including a dangerous header from Achraf Hakimi that narrowly missed the target.

The decisive moment came in stoppage time of the second half when El Yamiq rose to meet a Hakimi corner, sending a header past Lutfallah to settle the contest. Despite the narrow scoreline, Bahrain’s defense stood firm for the majority of the game and limited Morocco’s opportunities.

The friendly offered both sides a chance to test their squads ahead of December’s FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in Doha, Qatar. Bahrain will return to the same stadium on Monday to face Egypt, who have recently secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.