Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has etched his name further into the national team’s history books after setting a new all-time appearance record during the Atlas Lions’ 2026 World Cup Round of 16 clash against Canada.
The experienced shot-stopper was named in the starting XI by coach Mohamed Ouahbi for the high-pressure knockout tie in North America, earning his 95th international cap as he stepped onto the pitch in Houston.
That milestone saw Bounou move beyond Moroccan football legend Ahmed Faras, who previously held the record with 94 appearances for the national team.
The goalkeeper now stands alone in third place on Morocco’s all-time appearance list.
His achievement underlines his long-standing importance to the national side and further cements his reputation as one of Africa’s most reliable and consistent goalkeepers on the international stage.
Within the wider Moroccan rankings, former captain Noureddine Naybet remains top with 115 caps, while modern-day star Achraf Hakimi has also climbed the list after reaching 101 international appearances in the same match against Canada.
Bounou’s rise places him among an elite group of African goalkeepers in terms of longevity at international level.
His consistency over several years has made him a central figure in Morocco’s recent success, including their deep runs in successive World Cup tournaments.
Across the continent, comparisons have already been drawn with Egypt’s legendary goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who accumulated more than 150 international caps and famously made history by playing at a World Cup at the age of 45.
The match against Canada carried additional emotional weight for Bounou due to his personal background.
Born in Montreal in 1991 while his father worked there as a university physics professor, he later moved back to Casablanca with his family at the age of three.
Years later, Canada would come calling in a different way when former national team coach Benito Floro, who was in charge between 2013 and 2016, made contact regarding his international future.
However, Bounou’s international career has remained firmly tied to Morocco, where he has grown into one of the most influential figures in the squad.
