Morocco, one of Africa’s reperensentatives in ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, have successfully secured passage to the knockout phase of the global football showpiece after beating Canada 2-1 at the Al-Thumamah stadium in Doha on Thursday.
First Half goals from winger Hakim Ziyech and striker Youssef En-Nesyri were enough to see the Atlas Lions through as group F leaders.
Morocco, who needed only to avoid defeat in their final Group match to reach the knockout rounds, took advantage of an unconvincing clearance by Canada keeper Milan Borjan that landed on the foot of Hakim Ziyech effortlessly lobbed the ball into an gaping net to open scoring in the fourth minute of the match.
Borjan had been placed in an unenviable position by central defender Steven Vitoria, whose weak back pass forced the goalkeeper to race Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri to the ball.
En-Nesyri remained dangerous throughout the first half, and his work paid off when he doubled Morocco’s lead in the 23rd minute with a neat near post finish following terrific through pass from defender Achraf Hakimi.
Canada came back into the game strongly late in the first half and pulled a goal back when Moroccan center back Nayef Aguerd diverted a shot beyond the reach of his goalkeeper Yasin Bounou in the 4th minute.
En-Nesyri then went on to score a third with a tidy volley, deep into forsthalf stoppage time but that the goal was rightfully disallowed for offside.
In the other game in group F, 2018 finalist Croatia played out a goalless draw with Belgium to join the North Africans into the tournament’s next round.
The results means Morocco finish top of the group and will face the second-place finishers in Group E, which is made up of Japan, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica.
Later tonight, Japan will face 2010 winners Spain with Costa Rica taking on 2014 champions Germany.
