After defeating Canada 2-1 on Thursday, Morocco became the first African team to win a World Cup group in 24 years.
Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-goals Nesyri in the first half were plenty, and Nayef Aguerd's tournament-opening own goal was little more than a consolation for a Canada team that will return home empty-handed.
Morocco must now wait until the Group E games on Thursday to find out who they will play on Tuesday at Education City Stadium. For the first time since 1986, Walid Regragui's team needed just a point to go to the knockout rounds, and they were given a fantastic start after four minutes.
A short back pass from Steven Vitoria to Milan Borjan was made worse by the goalkeeper's clumsy touch, which allowed Ziyech to chip the ball into an open net from 25 yards away
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More careless defending, coupled with Canada's vulnerability every time Morocco attacked, led to Morocco's second goal halfway through the first half. Right-back Achraf Hakimi played a long ball that left center-half Kamal Miller exposed. En-Nesyri ran on to the ball and shot under Borjan, who once again should have done better.
Canada reduced the deficit five minutes before halftime despite having no attacking threat at all. Aguerd's toe deflected Sam Adekugbe's low cross goalward after he outran Hakimi on the left.
After Canada had partially cleared Ziyech's inswinging free-kick from the right, En-Nesyri thought he had given Morocco a two-goal lead before the half. However, his effort was disallowed because Aguerd was in the way of Borjan and thus offside.
Morocco retreated inside themselves as the second half went on, maybe realizing the magnitude of their accomplishment.
After 71 minutes, Canada came within a whisker of tying the score when substitute Atiba Hutchinson, 39, headed onto the underside of the bar and Alistair Johnston was unable to push the rebound over the goal line. Alphonso Davies had previously volleyed wide on the stretch. But Morocco managed to hold on, and when Croatia and Belgium drew 0-0 in their other pool match, there were wild celebrations at the final whistle.
WHY DOES THAT MATTER? A SECOND AFRICAN TREAT
Senegal and Morocco have advanced, while Cameroon and Ghana are still in the running, so there could be a sizable African presence in the final round.
Regragui's side will not be taken lightly. They will be difficult opponents since they are strong in midfield, with Sofyan Amrabat being a particularly commanding presence, and have a sprinkling of quality in attack thanks to Ziyech and En-Nesyri.
CANADA IS TORTURED BY EN-NESYRI
En-Nesyri, who also scored four years ago in Russia, became the first Moroccan player to score at two different World Cups.
More importantly, he was a vital part of his team's deserving victory. He was a bothersome presence for Canada's sluggish defense the entire time, and he earned his goal after 23 minutes.
He was regrettably denied the opportunity to score a second goal in first-half stoppage time when his attempt was disallowed for offside.
DAVIES IS AN EXAMPLE OF CANADA'S VALOR.
Canada deserves a lot of praise for how they approached the challenge of competing against the best in the world. No one more so than their face-of-the-company Davies, who did everything in his power to push his team forward.
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