At the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, if any was had predicted on which was bound to be the best African side in the group stages, no one would have thought about the North African side Morocco.
Other than ending a 36 year long spell of failing to progressing to the knock out stages of the Word Cup, Morocco was the first African country to qualify to the next stage without being beaten in the group.
They opened with a goalless opening against Croatia followed by one of the biggest shocks of the tournament after they beat Belgium.
Morocco is the first African nation to top a group in world cup after Nigeria in 1998. The Atlas lions reached this stage for the second time in history after defeating Canada 2-1 at the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar.
Wild celebrations transpired at the Al-thumama stadium after the Atlas Lions progressed to the next stage. Hakim Ziyech scored for Morocco in the 4th minute after a bad error by Canada goal keeper Milan Borjan which made the winger to find the net in an empty goal.
Yousseff En-Neysri added a second in the 23rd minute setting off wild celebrations among Morocco fans who witnessed these moments in Al-thumama stadium.
Morocco was drawn in a tricky group including Croatia and Belgium, who finished in the second and third respectively, but managed four points off the European sides before holding on for victory against Canada in their final group game.
A victory for Croatia over Belgium who faced off the same time as Morocco played Canada could have sent the North Africans drop to the second place but it was the Croatians who finished as the second runners-up after drawing 0-0 with Belgium who crashed out at the group stage.
Canada playing at their first World cup since 1986, pulled a goal back shortly before half-time when Nayef Aguefd turned Sam Adekugbe’s pass into his own net but it ultimately finished bottom of the standing without a point.
So, Morocco’s win means they top group F on seven points, while Canada exits the World cup with three successive defeats.
Croatia claimed second place with their 0 -0 draw against Belgium, whose group-stage exit surely crashes the golden generation. The runners-up in Group E, Spain, await Morocco, while the winners Japan, face Croatia.
