Joseph Isokpehi Reporting.
Atlas Lions of Morocco on Thursday inside Al Thumama Stadium, became the second African side to reach the round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA world cup in Qatar.
The impressive Moroccans defeated Canada 2-1 to finish top of Group F with seven points and reach the second round of the world cup for the second time 36 years after.
Morocco, who needed a win or a draw in their final Group F match to reach the knockout stage, took the advantage of a poor clearance in the 4th minute by the Canadian Goalkeeper Milan Borjan which found Morrocan striker Hakim Ziyech to lob over the goalkeeper for Atlas lions the first goal.
En – Nesyri who was all over the Canadian right from the start of the game doubled Morocco’s lead in the 23rd minute of the game as the Moroccans became more confident of a place in the next round, however, En-Nesyri had his second goal ruled out for offside, just as the Canadians pulled one back courtesy of an own goal by defender Nayef Agued in the 40th minutes for Morocco only goal conceded in the tournament so far.
Morocco became the first Arab nation and first from the region to qualify for the round of 16 for the second time after the Mexico 1986 World Cup feat.
The coach Walid Regragui’s side were able to defend the scoreline till the end of the game to pull a near-perfect record in the group phase, with a goalless draw in the first game against solid Croatia, took number 2 ranked  Belgium to the cleaners in their second game and Canada in the last game went down to the Africans to finish top of the group and will now take on Spain in the second round.
Exiting their first world cup since 1986, Â Canada became the second team to crash out of the world cup without a point after the host nation Qatar, but the North Americans will have the opportunity to rewrite their wrong in 2026 as automatic co-hosts along with Mexico and the United States for the next world cup.
Elsewhere 2018 finalists Croatia ended the fun for Belgium as they held the second-best ranked team in the world by FIFA to a goalless draw as Roberto Martinez’s men ended in third place in the group.
Morocco now join fellow African Senegal in the round of 16 and a third nation from the region Ghana may join the list of African teams in the second round tomorrow, Â when they confront Uruguay in the group H final game for a place in the last 16.
