Morocco celebrate after the team’s victory in the penalty shootout during the Qatar World Cup 2022 round of 16 match in Al Rayyan, Qatar on December 6, 2022. Photo: VCG

Achraf Hakimi struck the decisive penalty in a shootout to send Morocco into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time on Tuesday as the African side stunned Spain after a goalless draw.

Spain coach Luis Enrique had claimed he set his players the “homework” of taking 1,000 penalties each.

But Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all missed from the spot before Madrid-born Hakimi dinked his home as Morocco won the shootout 3-0, to the delight of their raucous supporters.

Walid Regragui’s side will face Portugal in what is uncharted territory for them – their previous best run at a World Cup was a last-16 exit in 1986.

Spain had been hoping they could repeat their 2010 World Cup triumph after reaching the semifinals of Euro 2020 in 2021, where they were also beaten on penalties by Italy.

Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had other ideas and saved brilliantly from Soler and Busquets, while Sarabia hit the post from the spot.

“In football this is the best day of my life,” said Morocco winger Sofiane Boufal. “Today we made history. We can see the happiness of the people, of our family. Today is amazing, I can’t describe it to be honest, the emotion. Today is historic.”

Morocco topped their group after beating Belgium and drawing with Croatia, and leaving Spain in the dust on a historic run. The team have conceded just one goal, in a group stage win over Canada, and that tight defense kept Spain at bay.

The teams were closely matched throughout a tense game, with Spain having more of the ball but Morocco creating the better openings, few though they were.

The last African and Arab side left standing at the first World Cup held in an Arab country, Morocco were intensely backed and their fans greatly outnumbered Spain’s.

With La Roja playing in a pale blue second strip, they resembled the away team on hostile territory.

Gavi, who at 18 years and 123 days old became the youngest player to start a World Cup knockout game since Brazil great Pele in 1958, rose to the occasion.

Regragui’s side sat deep defensively, frustrating Spain, and threatened on the counter themselves.

“Nobody managed to steal the ball from them, so I accepted not having the ball,” said Morocco coach Regragui. “I’m not a magician.”

Boufal, who bypassed Llorente with ease early on, carved the best chance of the half for Nayef Aguerd, who headed inches over.

Bounou pummelled away a Dani Olmo strike from an angle as the tension cranked up after the break.

Luis Enrique withdrew the dogged and muddied Gavi for Soler. He threw Morata on too, giving Spain a focal point in attack, but they struggled to supply him as Morocco sat deeper and deeper.

Morocco were closest to scoring in extra-time, testing Simon, who made a fine save with his legs to deny Walid Cheddira after he broke down Spain’s left flank.

AFP