Morocco goalkeeper Bono described his side’s historic World Cup victory against Spain as a “gift to all of Morocco”.
The North Africans, competing in the tournament’s knockouts for the first time in 36 years, defeated the 2010 champions on penalties at Education City Stadium on Tuesday after the match had finished goalless.
The win ensured Morocco became the first Arab team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Yassine Bounou, known as Bono, would prove the hero for his national team, the Sevilla goalkeeper saving two of Spain's three penalties in the shoot-out to leave Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi to seal a famous victory.
Referencing the vocal and partisan backing Morocco had in the stands, as well as back home, Bono said: "We felt the support of our fans in Morocco and elsewhere, and that gave us momentum in the stadium.
"On behalf of all the players, I want to thank the fans who helped us in this task. I congratulate all the players and I offer this gift to all the Moroccan people."
In the shoot-out, after Pablo Sarabia struck the post, Bono saved from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets to consign Spain to their second successive exit on penalties from the World Cup.
"You know penalties, it's a little bit of intuition, a little bit of luck," Bono told beIN Sports. "We won, that's the most important thing. Hats off to the whole team – they did the job. It was incredible.
"It's not easy to stay focused for 120 minutes, against a Spanish team that dominates the ball well, who has possession.
"When you live moments like this, sometimes it's hard to realise it. We will try to avoid the noise around us, stay focused on ourselves, on our job, our recovery."
Morocco, who also became the fourth African side to advance to the last 16, will face Portugal in the quarter-finals.
"I'm so happy for the team ... they did a great job all through the game," Bono said. "We understood the game from the start, so I'm so happy for this win."
Best and worst 'Panenkas' after Hakimi's daring penalty against Spain - in pictures
Here is a list of five of the best paneka penatlies – as well as five of the worst fails.
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HITS: Antonin Panenka (Czechoslovakia v West Germany, 1976). Beating the Germans on penalties is flash enough. Doing it in such cool fashion the manoeuvre would forever be named after you? What a dude. AP -
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco v Spain, 2022). Against the country of his birth. To give his country of origin their greatest ever win. Not so much cool as Arctic. AFP -
Andrea Pirlo (Italy v England, 2012). The epitome of cool. And the penalty wasn’t bad, either. Getty -
Zinedine Zidane (France v Italy, 2006). Added a frisson of drama by chipping it in off the underside of the bar, and just over the line. All part of a nice quiet night for the retiring France great … Getty -
Omar Abdulrahman (UAE v Japan, 2015). One of the biggest upsets in Asian Cup history, and perhaps UAE’s greatest ever win. In the midst of the shoot-out, their maestro dinked in a Panenka. Getty -
MISSES: Gary Lineker (England v Brazil, 1992). One short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s record number of goals for England, he botched his showy penalty in a pre-Euro 1992 friendly at Wembley. Getty -
Eric Cantona (Bordeaux v Beauvais, 1989). So much swagger, he juggled the ball all the way from halfway to the spot in a French Cup shoot out. Then his chip was so heroically limp in barely reached the goalline. Getty -
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City v Chelsea, 2021). Chipped the ball into Edouard Mendy’s hands, sparking a comeback which at least briefly delayed City’s inevitable Premier League title charge. Reuters -
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia v Montenegro, 2018). Thrillingly prolific - except when attempting Panenkas. “I have no idea why I’ve done that,” he said, after ballooning his penalty over the bar. Reuters -
Ademola Lookman (Fulham v West Ham United, 2020). His horror effort cost his side vital points in the battle against relegation. “I couldn't even describe the devastation,” he later said of the incident. Getty
