Pro Philani discusses how an impassioned Morocco side defeated Canada 2-1 to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Not many expected the Atlas Lions to qualify from a group containing Belgium, 2018 runners-up Croatia and first-timers Canada. They’ve now matched their achievement from Mexico ’86 but will be hungry for more.
In both Mexico ’86 and Qatar ’22, they conceded one goal in the group, but were more lethal in front of goals this time scoring four compared to just three back in 1986 as they collected seven points in one of the tournament’s toughest groups. The return of Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech has sparked the Morocco dressing room after he was cast out of the national team by the previous coach, Vahid Halilhodžić.
The FIFA Fan fest is packed with Morocco fans celebrating their return to the knockout stage for the first time in 36 years 🇲🇦🎉 pic.twitter.com/VxXAYrNEtJ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
The Qatari people chose to support fellow Arab nations following their elimination from the competition and were not disappointed when Ziyech opened the scoring in the fourth minute to give the Atlas Lions, as they are affectionately known, a glimpse of hope before Youssef En-Neysri netted the second of the match in the 23rd minute.
Nayef Aguerd scored an own goal in the 40th minute but that did not dampen the Morocco spirits as they held on untill half time. A total of 10 substitutions were made in the second half, five from each side, and seemed to take the momentum off the match but that was enough for the North Africans to secure top spot in Group F.
Morocco join Senegal in the next round as they will face Group E runners-up Spain, while Croatia will face Group E winners, Japan.
Full Time :
— Africa View Facts (@AfricaViewFacts) December 1, 2022
🇲🇦 Morocco 2 - 1 Canada 🇨🇦
Morocco win a group with Croatia, Belgium and Canada.
They’re the first African nation to top a World Cup group since Nigeria in 1998
The last time Morocco made the last-16 it was in 1986, the first African country to do so. pic.twitter.com/f0SfpBh6PT
