The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco on Thursday stunned book makers defeating Columbia by a lone goal at the Group H match played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium and qualifying for the Round of 16.
Morocco joins Nigeria and South Africa, all from Africa to move to the last 16 team of the world with the Copper Queens of Zambia the only team to go home from the group stage.
Ref Maria Caputi of Italy who officiated the Japan versus Costa Rica in Group C was meticulous to ensure fair play and standard game but the blacks at the stadium stood by Morocco to win.
The winning goal of the match was spectacular Ghizlane Chebbak had missed a penalty shot saved by Perez but the rebound came to Ouzraoul who quickly found Anissa Lahman who scored at 45+4th minute.
In the first round, Germany defeated Morocco 6-0 and Columbia banged Korea 2-0; in the second round, African representatives tamed the Tigresses of Asian, Korea by a lone goal while Germany was shocked with a 1-2 defeat by Columbia.
With the shocking 1-1 draw between Korrea and Germany, Columbia emerged winners in group H chalking 6 points, winning two games and losing one scoring 4 goals and conceding 2; Morocco who everyone thought was the whipped team of the group came second to move to the round of 16 with 6 points scoring 2 goals and conceding 6; almighty Germany ranked 2 in the world had a nightmare of a tournament being kicked out with four points winning a match, drawing one and losing the third scoring 8 goals (highest in the group) and conceding 3 while giant killers Korea went home placing 4th but with heads high as the 17th ranked team in the world could only make a point from a draw and scored only a goal that wrecked Germany but conceded 4.
Morocco as runners-up in this group will meet France on Tuesday 8th August at 0900 hours while group winners Columbia will meet the Reggae Girlz of Jamaica at 12 noon same Tuesday.
This is the first time Columbia is facing any African side and the first time Morocco will face any South African side.
Columbia could become just the second South American side to win 100% of their group games in a single edition of the world cup with Brazil the only previous side to have done it in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Cameroon is the only African side to have won their group third game 2-1 over Switzerland in2015.
The Round of 16 matches will start with Switzerland taking on Spain at the Eden Park Stadium on Saturday at 0600 hours while the second match of the round is also on Saturday at 0900 hours (both times Nigerian time) between Japan and Norway at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
By Eniola Olatunji
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