Morocco hero Ounahi hails side's character after hard-fought World Cup win over Canada

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Ounahi[/a], who scored twice for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] in the win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a], told reporters in Houston: [b]"I am proud of everyone, of the whole group... [/b]We are a team, we are all united, and we want the same thing. We have a common goal. [/p][p][b]"Today I'm here talking because I scored, but it would have been the same if another teammate had scored: we would all have been happy. I am truly proud of this generation and this group."[/b][/p][video alt="The words of Azzedine Ounahi" credit-line="Fabio Russomando" guid="030c20d3-88df-48cf-9136-d3dc6e30be50" id="f4f0d0bc-789f-4c97-9ed4-766caa465294" /][p]It was a match that was not easy in the first half, but Morocco managed to break the deadlock after the break and then pull away.[/p][p]"[b]The team's response was one of great strength and character,"[/b] The Girona midfielder stated.[b] "We faced many problems, even off the pitch, and there were a lot of difficulties. They tried to put obstacles in our way, but we stayed focused. [/b][/p][p][b]"At half-time, we tried to fix a few things and, thank God, we managed to solve them.[/b][/p][p][b]"We had players who know exactly what to do, and others who gave everything on the pitch. Everyone fought until the end and, thank God, we saw a team that showed character and personality."[/b][/p][image alt="Ounahi's match stats" id="a2cbba62-42f2-4b4c-aa22-c8ca84f5ebe8" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker)" guid="77046048-712b-4660-b463-ed34d2db6023" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Ounahi also mentioned the nation's fans, who are celebrating seeing their team make the last eight of a World Cup for the second time in a row.[/p][p]"When I see our fans, I see men, women, young people and children: everyone is happy. We know how much football means to the Moroccan people and how much this national team represents for the country.[/p][p][b]"We will keep giving everything on the pitch to make them proud. I promise: we will keep fighting until the end and, God willing, we will do everything to bring more joy to our people."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/canada-x4toKORL/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=pUYfr7u3"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]