Former Super Eagles captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has stirred debate among football fans after suggesting that Morocco could have defeated Brazil comfortably if the Atlas Lions possessed attacking talents similar to Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman.
Oliseh made the remark following Morocco’s impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil in their opening Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a result that many observers viewed as evidence of the North African side’s growing status among football’s elite.
The former Nigerian midfielder, writing on his X account on Sunday, praised Morocco’s organisation, discipline and tactical structure, arguing that the African side had done enough to expose weaknesses in the five-time world champions.
“Impressive performance by this Moroccan side, defensively and offensively well structured. Had this team had Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman-like players versus Brazil, they could have won by 3 goals to 1 at worst,” Oliseh wrote.
He added that Brazil were fortunate to escape with a point, crediting the influence of key attacking stars.
“Brazil looking deceptive and thank God they had Vinicius Jr and Raphinha. I loved the belief and evolution from the Moroccans,” he stated.
Oliseh’s comments came after Morocco produced one of the standout performances of the opening round of the World Cup. The Atlas Lions took the lead through Ismael Saibari and dominated large spells of the first half before Brazil responded with an equaliser from Vinicius Junior.
The result has attracted widespread praise for Morocco, who became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022 and have continued to build on that achievement with another impressive showing against elite opposition.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti also admitted after the match that his side struggled in the opening stages and needed to improve despite salvaging a point.
Oliseh’s reference to Osimhen and Lookman is likely to resonate with Nigerian football fans. The pair have emerged as two of Africa’s most influential attackers, with Osimhen’s finishing ability and Lookman’s creativity making them key figures for both club and country.
Their performances have reinforced Nigeria’s reputation as one of Africa’s leading football nations and have often drawn admiration from observers across the continent.
The remarks have already generated discussion among supporters, with many agreeing that Morocco’s performance deserved more than a draw and that a clinical finisher could have made the difference against Brazil.
As the World Cup progresses, both Morocco and Brazil remain firmly in contention for qualification from Group C, while Oliseh’s comments continue to fuel conversations about Africa’s growing competitiveness on football’s biggest stage.
