Senegal had on Tuesday beaten Ecuador 2-1 to move to the round of 16, but Tunisia did not have such luck, as their 1-0 defeat of France on Wednesday could not fetch them a second round ticket.
Yesterday in Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium, Morocco first half blitz took Canada by surprise as they crumbled under the North African force.
Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri scored the goals that saw Morocco secure top spot in Group F and a place in the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.
Morocco were drawn in a tricky group, including Croatia and Belgium, who finished second and third in 2018 respectively, but took four points off the European sides before holding on for victory against Canada in their final group game.
Morocco will now play the runners-up in Group E, comprising Spain, Japan, Costa Rica and Germany. Group E matches were concluded late yesterday.
A victory for Croatia over Belgium – who faced off at the same time as Morocco played Canada – could have seen the North Africans drop to second, but it
was the Croatians who finished as runners-up after drawing 0-0 with Roberto Martinez’s outfit, 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 Aguerd inadvertently turned Sam Adekugbe’s cross into his own net, but ultimately finished bottom of the standings, without a point.
Today, Ghana and Cameroun will fight to join the Moroccans in the round of 16 when they meet Uruguay and Brazil respectively. The Ghana versus Uruguay game at the Al Janoub Stadium is a repeat of their 2010 quarterfinal clash in South Africa, which ended in tears for the West Africans.
The match is remembered for Luis Suarez’s famous handball, which prevented what would have been a winning goal for the West Africans. The resultant penalty was missed by Asamoah Gyan to take the game to a penalty shoot out, which the Uruguayans won 4-2 to earn a semifinal berth.
