Morocco are through to the quarter final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after beating 2010 champions Spain on penalties at the Education city stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
Spain based Goalkeeper Yassin Bounou was the hero for the North African side, saving three penalties, before Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive kick to secure a 3-0 shootout victory for the Atlas Lions.
Spain, winners of the 2010 World Cup on African soil went into the round of 16 tie as the overwhelming favourite against the only African team left in the competition.
Neither of the two teams were able to score during the entirety of match plus extra time despite the European giants dominating play and creating more goalscoring opportunities.
Spain’s inability was largely due a resolute defensive display by the Moroccans who are yet to concede a goal from an opposing in the tournament.
The only goal the Africans have conceded in the World Cup was scored by their own player Nayaf Aguerd which came in their 2-1 win over Canada in their final group F match.
At the end of a hugely entertaining encounter penalty shootout was needed to separate Spain and Morocco and it was the Atlas Lions who emerged victorious scoring three out of four kicks.
Spain on the other hand missed all three of their kicks and have now been eliminated.
Morocco will play either Portugal or Switzerland in the quarter final of the 2022 World Cup at the Al-Thumamah stadium on next Tuesday.
