‘Yeh toh deja vu ho gaya’ – Fans react as Morocco Women’s Team qualifies for knockout stages in FIFA Women’s World Cup

Morocco beat Colombia in the final group H game in the FIFA Women’s World Cup ensuring that both teams reach the knockout stages of the marquee tournament. South Korea and Germany drew in the other game which ensured the qualification for the other two. While Morocco and Colombia finished with six points each, Germany had four points whereas South Korea had just one. Following the Moroccan Men’s Football Team’s heroics in the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, the Women’s Team is also on its own fairytale.

Morocco’s result was not only important for the country but also for the continent. African countries have enjoyed great success in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. First, Nigeria qualified for the knockout stages, after this, South Africa scored a 92^nd-minute winner to help them reach the Round of 16. Now, Morocco did the unimaginable in their debut campaign. This means three African Teams have qualified for the knockout stages, better than the previous best of two when Nigeria and Cameroon made it into the Round of 16 in 2019.

Anissa Lahmari’s goal in the first half remained the match-winner for Morocco

Moroccan players were out on the pitch with phones in their hands to follow the action in the game between Germany and South Korea in the same group. The celebrations in Perth began once the final whistle confirmed that the game in Brisbane had ended in a draw. The final scoreline in the game between Germany and South Kore remained 1-1. Whereas Morocco won the game 1-0, courtesy of Anissa Lahmari’s winner in the first half’s injury time.

The Moroccan Team will next be in action on Tuesday, August 8 against the French Team in the Round of 16. Colombia, on the other hand, will face the Jamaican challenge in the Round of 16. The final of the marquee competition will be played at the Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday, August 20. The competition has followed a theme similar to the Men’s version in 2022 whereby underdogs and upsets have been central. Three teams – Germany, Canada, and Brazil – ranked in the top 10 have already suffered exits in the tournament.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/Maehul3344/status/1687162664584167435