Would you believe that Morocco is the first African team to prevail in a World Cup penalty shootout? is the first African team to advance past the quarterfinals of the World Cup since 2010.
Morocco is now one of only three African teams to have ever made it to the competition's final eight, joining Cameroon from 1990, Ghana from 2010, and Senegal from 2002. They will compete against the victor of tonight's round of 16 match between Switzerland and Portugal, which begins at 10 PM East African Time.
Other heroes from Morocco:
Atef Sabiri, Abdelhamid Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi, the three penalty shooters who succeeded in advancing Morocco to the next round.
Morocco took the first penalty shot, and Sabiri beat Unai Simon to give Morocco a 1-0 lead. Sarabia attempted to score Spain's first penalty, but he was unable to outduel Bono, giving Morocco the edge. Hakim Ziyech converted Morocco's second penalty to give the African Giants a 2-0 lead. Spain's Soler attempted a second penalty, but Bono kept Morocco ahead 2-0 by stopping Banun's attempt. Aschraf Hakimi, a Madrid-born and raised player, took the third penalty before Spain Captain Sergio Busquets, whose attempt was saved by Bono. Spain scored Morocco's third goal to advance to the quarterfinals.
Bono, the hero for Morocco, stopped Olmo's late free-kick and then two of Spain's penalty penalties, the first of which Sarabia hit the post with.
For the first time ever, Morocco makes it to the quarterfinals. They will take on the winner of Switzerland vs. Portugal, which gets underway at 2 p.m. ET.
Before the game, Luis Enrique revealed he had urged his team to drill 1,000 penalties; perhaps they needed more.
Morocco's game plan was spot on; they withstood Spain's pressure, had opportunities to attack them on the break, but most importantly, they made sure they reached the penalty shootout, where they did what they had to do and Spain decidedly did not.
Morocco survives the penalties! Morocco advances to their first-ever quarterfinal as Spain fails to score on any of their extra-point attempts!
At the very end of the second half's extra time, Spain came close to winning, but substitute Sarabia's effort hit the post and went out for a goal kick.
Sarabia's misfortune with the goalposts persisted as he sent Spain's first-ever spot kick off target and laid the stage for a disastrous penalty shootout.
Morocco have now gotten their revenge against Spain back in 2018 and now are the representatives of Africa in the world cup. They must be proud.
Morocco have now gotten their revenge against Spain back in 2018 and are now the representatives of Africa in the World Cup. They must be proud.