The Atlas Lions of Morocco beat former champions Spain on penalties to reach the quarter-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The game ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes of action.
Spain dominated possession in the game but struggled to find a way past the Morocco defence.
The best chance of the first half came when Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd headed over from close range.
The Atlas Lions also squandered a pair of one-on-ones afterwards.
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, watching Spain first spot kick hit the post before saving their next two efforts to help the North Africa side to a 3-0 victory on penalties.
The result means Morocco advance to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, where they face the winner of Portugal and Switzerland.
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COMMENTS
Super Eagles may NEVER reach these heights in our lifetimes!
No be swear oh ……unless we STEP UP and STAND UP to be counted; and take our football much more SERIOUSLY
You are on point darling. Super Eagles are lagging beh other African countries.
It’s bullshit, everyone knows you don’t achieve anything by sounding negative. Morocco is doing well, and we are proud of them. Everything doesn’t have to be about Nigeria. Nigeria didn’t qualify for this tournament, but we know Nigerians have huge energies and spirits and can definitely achieve a greater feat. The FA just needs visionaries and more practical figures.
At least, I’m proud of your last sentence there. That’s enough for me.
For people coming at the manager saying this guy left Ziyech out. This is a new coach he coached his first game in September and brought Ziyech back. But the man of the match is the coach. All Spain did was pass to death, they had no other plan
Morocco only conceded one goal this tournament.
Spanish lost because of many inexperienced players
Exactly. The Spanish coach practically retired all the experienced players in one fell swoop and banked purely on youth and talent. Even in the penalty takes, Moroccan players and goalkeeper showed more experience in the placements and reading the opponent’s movement.
Youth and talent will take you far, but experience will sustain your success and bail you out in critical situations. A balanced mix like Portugal is doing is always the best. Ronaldo is now getting benched, but brought on when needed.
Exactly. The Spanish coach practically retired all the experienced players in one fell swoop and banked purely on youth and talent. Even in the penalty takes, Moroccan players and goalkeeper showed more experience in the placements and reading the opponent’s movement.
Youth and talent will take you far, but experience will sustain your success and bail you out in critical situations. A balanced mix like Portugal is doing is always the best. Ronaldo is now getting benched, but brought on when needed.
WITH THE IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF AFRICA TEAMS IN QATAR WORLD CUP, THE NEXT WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS WILL BE VERY TOUGH FOR NIGERIA TO QUALIFY DUE TO SUPER EAGLE PLAYERS ATTITUDE THAT ALWAYS LIKE TO PLAY LIKE CHICKEN ON THE FIELD.
I doubt if history is anything to go by. Two reasons.
1. History. Nigeria seems to miss the world cup after 3 consecutive participations.
Attended 94, 98, 2002 ones
Missed 2006
Attended 2010, 2014, 2018
Missed obviously 2022
So we should be able to attend 2026, 2030 and 2034. 2038 is the burner lol
2. With 9 participating from Africa henceforth, if we miss a world cup again, NFF, players, team staff and even sports ministry will be fried.
9 counties? Miss? Haba
Democracy is not for everyone. It does not favour Nigeria. It as destroyed all the institutions and achievement the Country made under the Military inclusing football. Except the the Military takes over Nigeria football will never raise again. If one considers where these crop of politicians amanated ( i.e. , from the streets,without any reasonable career path and lacking the spirit of nation building ) you will be able to predict the future of Nigeria easily. These are men who don’t care about talents and how to horn them. All they care about are the cultist they use as thugs to perpatrates corruption . They ensure that meritocracy is dead in Nigeria. No written not from one of the nothing for u. That is the cardinal reason Super Eagles cannot have a good keeper up till now .The bulk of Nigeria U94 set players were discovered from local clubs sides and went on to shake ths world. Even today Nigeria still havs the Eyeama , Okochas, Kanu, Finidis et al on the streets but no one to bring them to limelight because thsy dont have connections.Guys mark my word except Nigeria returns back to Military rule the countries football may never rise again just like education and all other institutions which present politician politician have destroyed
You are a bastard. It is obvious you don’t like freedom. In a military regime, you have no rights to anything, and extra judicial killings won’t be seen as a crime. So just because of football, you want to return Nigeria to the days of Abacha and have people go on exile. Do you realize Nigeria was banned for 2 years? and we missed the Afcon in 1996 which we could have easily won due to military rule. Think before you reason nonsense.
Even though I don’t support 442’s opinion, I don’t see him as a Bastard for coming out with his real identity to speak his mind.
A Bastard and Coward is someone that hides under another person’s identity to throw insults, unless it runs in your family.
Get a life bro and act matured.
“Someone that hides under another person’s identity” Seems there’s only one Sean in the whole world hahaha. Go sit somewhere little boy or stfu
Democracy as destroyed everything in Nigeria including football..Except the Military takes over to sanitise and weed out these present set of policiticians who came from streets without self disciplines, focus, and spirit if nation building there is no hope for the country in all sectors including football.
Are you saying we benefited from past military administrations? Military rule will simply bury the already rotten state called Nigeria. Don’t wish for what you can’t handle my brother.
I HOPE all YOU GENERAL ROAH HATERS are now MISSING GENERAL ROAH???
If na GENERAL ROAH now una go dey SHOUT upndan..HIM dey PLAY BORING FOOTBALL, WHY is HIS TEAM not being ADVENTUROUS, WHY are they not MOVING with the BALL, WHY are they not ATTACKING bla bla…
But now WE all SAW how the MOROCCO COACH GAME PLAN worked..(cos everything in LIFE na GAME PLAN) HE allowed SPAIN to DOMINATE the GAME from START to END…
I LISTENED to HIS POST MATCH REPORT where HE HONESTLY admitted that MOROCCO is not yet SPAIN or ENGLAND yet so it was WISE to let them have POSSESSION…not out of FEAR but just becos of the GAME PLAN…
Thank goodness and tnks to Morocco for helping Africans out, because FIFA were looking for ways to slize Africa down to three again, but Morocco have proven dem wrong, congratulations guys.
The other time one FOOL was ARGUING with me when I was PRAISING the NORTH AFRICAN TEAM especially the MOROCCANS
Nigeria with bad position now can’t do that like Morocco , if Super Eagles go to the World Cup in Qatar I think they would have done big scandal for Africa with shaky defensive midfield and shaky back line with bad tactic from bad coach called Peseiro.I think with this bad position of SE they can’t go to the next World Cup in USA and Mexico & Canada , cause African teams have developed and have become World class teams look for Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Ghana, Cameroon I think Nigeria Super Eagles can’t outclass these big team. But new NFF board can change the face of SE with many policies; fristly sack Peseiro hire World class coach like France coach Remond Domenech or Dunga or Frank Deboer, if NFF would like to hire local coach solve Siasia case then hire him as a best coach now in Nigeria; secondly inact a law to reorgnize NPFL leauge and clubs administration, local players position in their clubs; thirdly creat platfrom for NPFL under infratructures of clubs like stadiums, clubs jims, clubs facilities, clubs sub-pitches; fourthly set up a workshop in order to sovle Nigerian football decline with recalling football local and foriegn technocrats to put excellent soultions for Nigerian football like change pattern of play and put new defensive mentality for SE with agressive ferocious, pressing style of play, change NPLF system, imposition for any NPFL to accommodate their situation to a public companies then call World stakeholders to invest on Nigerian football; if NFF put these policies in their agendas really and literarly, I think they will develop Nigeria football then will lead it to a new era.
Hassan Hassan , na 2026 world you dey prepare for? Before NFF put all those things you mention in place, 2026 world nor go don finish? This man, this man, no be small enjoyment dey dat your planet oo. Shuoo…