How Morocco created history, reach first World Cup quarter-final

Yassine Bounou saved two penalties as Morocco beat Spain 3-0 in a shootout to secure a quarter-final berth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Both teams played out a goalless draw in regulation and extra times before the north African nation eliminated the Spaniards via penalties.

Filled mostly by Moroccan fans, the Education City Stadium went agog with excitement following the winning penalty converted by PSG defender Achraf Hakimi.

The two teams had a few chances but the opportunities were not clear-cut enough, showing how tidy both were at the back.

Until his substitution, Sofiane Boufal and Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech impressed on both wings and troubled the Spanish full backs.

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In the duration of the entire 120 minutes, Spain made more than 1,000 passes in the game. The European team almost claimed the winner at the death when Pablo Sarabia hit the post.

The atmosphere was indeed an electric one. Moroccan faithfuls drummed and sang throughout the game. The Moroccan fans, with their whistles, chanted passionately in support of their beloved players.

Morocco impress once again

Credit must be given to coach Walid Regragui who only got appointed to lead the team in August.

So far in Qatar, Morocco have not conceded a goal scored by an opposition player. The Atlas Lions drew goalless against Croatia, beat Belgium 2-0 and beat Canada 2-1, the goal being an own goal. The north Africans didn’t concede any goal in all friendly matches leading to the World Cup.

As reported by renowned Football Journalist, Usher Komugisha, Regragui insisted on each player bringing in family members of their choice to be with the team during the tournament at their base in Wyndham West Bay in Doha hotel.

According to Komugisha, “this support of family members has kept the players focused on the job.”

Morocco’s only previous appearance in the last 16 came in 1986, but they have now extended their unbeaten run in the World Cup to five games and kept a clean sheet in six out of their last seven in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Spain end their campaign in disappointing fashion following a very promising start in Qatar. La Roja annihilated Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening group game. Against Morocco, Luis Enrique’s side had just one shot on target from their 1,019 passes.

The Spanish coach had confessed his team needed to do their homework on penalties. He claimed the players practiced more than 1,000 penalties in training prior to the game, but they will need to go back to the drawing board after failing to convert any of their spot kicks.

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Joy for Africa

Morocco was the last African team standing at the 2022 World Cup after Senegal were beaten on Sunday. The Teranga Lions lost 3-0 to England in their round of sixteen game after an uninspiring showing.

Of the five African teams that made it to the 2022 World Cup, only Morocco and Senegal qualified for the round of sixteen.

Ghana, Tunisia, and Cameroon all crashed out in the group stages. They did with some pride however after the latter two teams recorded landmark victories. The Carthage Eagles beat reigning world champions France 1-0 in their final group game while the indomitable Lions also beat the almighty Brazil by the same scoreline.

Morocco’s victory on Tuesday is one that restored hope that we could finally see an African team qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time ever. They will however need to overcome Portugal, who whitewashed Switzerland 6-1 in the round of sixteen, to achieve that.

England play France; Argentina slug it out with Netherlands while Croatia and Brazil meet in other quarter final fixtures.