Who Is Soufiane Rahimi? Morocco's Super-Sub Hero
The super-sub moment against Haiti
Rahimi had been on the pitch for only around eight minutes when he decided the match. With Morocco level at 2-2 and the clock ticking, he controlled a flick from Chadi Riad and fired a shot that deflected past the Haiti goalkeeper in the 78th minute, making it 3-2. It was the kind of cool, low-fuss finish that wins knockout football.
He was not done. In the 89th minute he pounced on a defensive mistake, kept the ball alive near the byline, and crossed unselfishly for Gessime Yassine to tap in the fourth. A goal and an assist in roughly ten minutes off the bench turned a wobbling Morocco performance into a comfortable-looking 4-2 win.
Who is Rahimi and where does he play?
Soufiane Rahimi is a forward who has built his reputation in the UAE Pro League with Al Ain, where he became one of the most prolific strikers in Asian club football. He is best known internationally for a dominant AFC Champions League campaign in which he was the standout scorer, marking him out as a clinical penalty-box finisher.
Rahimi also captained Morocco's Olympic side, leading the line at the Paris 2024 Games where Morocco performed strongly. That blend of club goalscoring and major-tournament experience is exactly why he is trusted as an impact option for the senior national team when matches need breaking open.
Why he suits the super-sub role
Not every striker thrives coming on late, but Rahimi's game is built for it. He reads rebounds and deflections well, gambles on defensive errors, and does not need a long warm-up of touches to find the goal — all qualities that pay off when fresh legs are introduced against tiring defenders in the closing stages.
Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, Morocco's strength in depth means players like Rahimi can change a game without starting it. The Haiti result was the clearest possible proof of concept: a manager with match-winners on the bench can afford a slow start and still finish strong.
What's next for Rahimi at the World Cup
After the Haiti heroics, Rahimi has handed Ouahbi a genuine selection question ahead of the Round of 32 against the Group F winner on June 29 in Monterrey: keep him as the trusted finisher off the bench, or reward him with a start. Both options have merit in a knockout where one moment can decide everything.
Either way, Rahimi has stamped his name on this tournament. For a player who has done much of his best work away from Europe's biggest leagues, a decisive World Cup cameo on the global stage is the kind of platform that can redefine a career — and Morocco fans will hope there is more to come.
Frequently asked
What club does Soufiane Rahimi play for?
Soufiane Rahimi plays for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he established himself as one of Asian club football's most prolific forwards, including a standout AFC Champions League campaign.
What did Rahimi do against Haiti?
He came on as a substitute and, within about ten minutes, scored Morocco's 78th-minute go-ahead goal and assisted Gessime Yassine's late fourth, sealing a 4-2 comeback win.
Has Rahimi played in major tournaments before?
Yes. He captained Morocco's Olympic team at the Paris 2024 Games and has been a leading scorer in Asian club competitions, giving him strong big-match experience.