Morocco qualifies for FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout stage

Morocco on Thursday became the third African country to reach the knockout stage of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand after they edged Columbia 1 – 0.

The debutante made history following Anissa Lahmari’s 49^th minute rebound goal after Ghizlane Chebbak’s penalty was saved.

Due to Thursday’s result Morocco now joins South Africa and Nigeria who have already qualified for the knockout stages.

Group H is now done and dusted with Columbia and Morocco being the only countries from the group to qualify for the knockout stage.

“Well done to all the girls and we are continuing on our merry way,” said Morocco’s Coach Reynald Pedros.

Of the four African teams that qualified for the World Cup, Zambia is the only African team that has not managed to qualify for the round of 16.

Meanwhile, two-time champions, Germany who won the 2003 and 2007 World Cup received a shocker after they drew 1 – 1 with South Korea in their final group H match which saw two of them exiting the group.

“Maybe we lacked precision, maybe we tried to force things, but there was a feeling of something missing. Of course, I am disappointed and I am also frustrated because we were expecting more of us and that’s very clear,” said German Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.

With the group stages now over, the group winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16, which will take place from August 5 to August 8.