Stephen Eustáquio on Canada making history with win over South Africa
Canada captain Stephen Eustáquio reflects on his team’s historic victory over South Africa and what it means as they continue their World Cup run.
Sports Pulse
When Morocco competes in the round of 32 against the Netherlands, the Atlas Lions will rely heavily on Ismael Saibari to continue scoring goals.
Saibari has been the leader of Morocco’s attack at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals in group play.
“Saibari is a very versatile player because he’s a talented player,” said Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi. “He has lots of qualities: he can shoot with both feet, he is able to eliminate, he has great striking power, and he is just a high-quality player.”
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Despite what fans see on the pitch, Saibari’s story goes back to the challenges he faced at a young age, which made his path to the World Cup far from smooth.
Saibari struggled at an early age, not taking his first steps until the age of two as a result of a congenital condition that halted his motor development, making it hard for him to stand or walk.
To correct this condition, Saibari had to wear a special device, going through a long treatment process, using specifically designed orthopaedic devices to aid him with standing and moving around.
“My feet were turned inward and I moved around with walking devices,” Saibari told Swedish television network Västerbotten. “My doctor told my parents I might never walk in my life.”
Saibari worked up from PSV Eindhoven’s youth academy to become one of the best attackers this past season, with 19 goals in 37 appearances, good enough to earn Saibari the Eredivisie Player of the Year honors and PSV Eindhoven its third consecutive Eredivisie championship.
As the Atlas Lions prepare to face the Netherlands in the round of 32, Saibari has the chance to continue a run that represents much more than goals on the field.
Evan Waldman is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
