When the referee’s whistle blew for full time on Saturday evening at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Morocco’s fairytale run at the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup finally came to an end after Croatia condemned them to a 2-1 defeat in the 3/4th place playoff match.Despite losing, the Atlas Lions went on to make even more history as they became the first African nation to finish in the top four in the history of any FIFA World Cup tournament.Thank you, Morocco 🇲🇦 They dared to dream and they absolutely delivered 👏The best ever finish by an African nation in the #FIFAWorldCup 😍 pic.twitter.com/6Tjf95x8qO— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 17, 2022 Below are some facts about Morocco at the World CupMorocco became the first African team to qualify for the semi-final of a World Cup tournament – each of the previous three African sides to reach a quarter-final were all eliminated at that stage (Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010).World Cup: Longest unbeaten runs by African NationsMorocco have kept four clean sheets at World Cup 2022, one more than they’d recorded in their first 16 games in the competition between 1970 and 2018 (3). In fact, their total of seven clean sheets is the joint-most by an African nation in World Cup history (level with Nigeria).Most goals for MoroccoYoussef En-Nesyri has now scored more World Cup goals than any other Morocco player in their history in the competition (3).World Cup: Morocco’s latest goalsZakaria Aboukhlal’s goal scored at 91:51 against Belgium was Morocco’s latest ever World Cup goal and their first scored in second half stoppage time.World Cup: Most Clean Sheets by African GoalkeeperYassine Bounou, who made his 50th appearance for Morocco against Portugal, became the first African goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single edition of the World Cup.When Morocco faced Spain in the last 16, Yassine Bounou also became the first African goalkeeper to save a penalty in a World Cup shootout (saved two).Most wins by an African nationMorocco have won three games at World Cup 2022 – no African side has ever won more games at a single edition of the World Cup.Walid Regragui reached the World Cup semi-finals after only eight games in charge of Morocco, the lowest total of games before reaching this stage since Otto Gloria with Portugal in 1966 (5th game). He is also the first African coach to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
