Morocco came into this game with the highest chance of progression from Group F according to the faithful Opta supercomputer. The north Africans were rated at 91.6%, because they needed only a point to get to the second round, and they were theoretically facing the weakest team in the group, a Canada team who had zero points from their opening two games, a return that did not reflect how well they had payed at points against Belgium and then Croatia. Morocco hadn’t successfully navigated a World Cup group since 1986, but hopes were high ahead of this encounter at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Morocco, aiming to become the first African nation to finish top their World Cup group since Nigeria back in 1998, didn’t sit back, and added a second goal halfway the period via Youssef En-Nesyri, who absolutely rifled home after being put through by Achraf Hakimi. Not only were Morocco hurtling to the top of the group but they were doing so in considerable style.
Canada, perhaps thinking about their flight home, or the 2026 World Cup, could have been forgiven for checking out, but they have buckets of spirit and exploited one of Morocco’s few known issues, their propensity to score own goals. Nayef Aguerd putting through his own net in the 40th minute ticked off quite a few milestones. It makes him, for the time being, Canada’s joint-highest scorer in World Cup history, and it was the 100th goal of this World Cup, the first own goal of this World Cup and the third own goal Morocco have scored in their World Cup history.
Morocco thought they had scored again just before the break but Youssef En Nesyri’s effort was disallowed for a fractional offside. Still, even with only three goals and eight shots, this was a game well worth watching, something driven home by the lack of action in the Croatia Belgium game taking place simultaneously. South Park may have sung “Blame Canada” but one thing you mustn’t blame them for is a lack of entertainment in their games at the 2022 World Cup.
That said, the second half, understandably, was a less frenetic affair. Morocco knew that, needing a draw, they effectively had a two goal cushion and duly sat back, not posting a shot of any kind in the entire half. And why should you, when you are the first African team to get seven points in a World Cup group and you didn’t even concede a goal to an opposition player while doing so.