For the second time in its history

Morocco picks Canada's card.. and the first qualification card

Ashraf Hakimi and Ziyech celebrate qualifying for the World Cup Final 8.

Reuters

The Moroccan national team advanced to the second round (round of 16) of the World Cup for the second time in its history, after defeating its Canadian counterpart 2-1, yesterday, in the third and last round of the group stage matches in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

In the presence of 43,102 fans at Al-Thumama Stadium, the Moroccan national team advanced with two goals, scored by Hakim Ziyech and Youssef Al-Nusairi in the fourth and 24th minutes, then the Canadian national team goal came in the 40th minute, and Moroccan Nayef Akrad scored it by mistake in his team's goal.

The Moroccan national team repeated the achievement of the 1986 edition, when it reached the second round in the World Cup, and today it qualified from the top of Group Six, to meet in the next round with the second-place finisher in Group Five.

The Moroccan team started its campaign with a goalless draw with its Croatian counterpart, the runner-up of the 2018 World Cup, then defeated its Belgian counterpart 2-0, and today beat Canada to lead its group with seven points.

The Croatian team qualified from second place in the group, after raising its score to five points in a goalless draw with its Belgian counterpart today.

The Moroccan national team achieved its first victory against a non-European team in the World Cup, as it fought 18 previous matches in the World Cup, including four against non-European teams, all of which it lost.

The Moroccan national team also achieved the third victory in its record of confrontations against its Canadian counterpart, as it brought them together in three previous matches, which witnessed two victories for Morocco against one draw, while today's match was the first between them in the World Cup.

As for the Canadian national team, which participated in the World Cup for the second time in its history after the 1986 edition, it lost all its six matches in the record of its World Cup meetings, and its past five defeats came against European teams.

Walid Regragui, the coach of the Moroccan national team, pushed a basic squad, which included: Yassine Bounou, Ashraf Hakimi, Nayef Akred, Roman Sayess, Naseer Mazraoui, Ezzedine Onahi, Sofiane Amrabat, Abdelhamid Sabry, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef Al-Nusairi and Sofiane Boufal.

While Canada coach John Herdman pushed a starting lineup, which included: Milan Burian, Alastair Johnston, Stephen Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Samuel Adekogbe, Jonathan Osorio, Marc Anthony Kay, Alfonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, Syle Larraine and David.

 The Moroccan national team records its first victory against a non-European team in the World Cup.

To view an electronic supplement .. the World Cup teams,

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