• Morocco's players celebrate after their 3-0 penalty shoot-out victory in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Spain at Education City Stadium on December 6, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Getty
    Morocco's players celebrate after their 3-0 penalty shoot-out victory in the World Cup Round of 16 match against Spain at Education City Stadium on December 6, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Getty
  • Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning penalty. AFP
    Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning penalty. AFP
  • Morocco goalkeeper Bono saves from Sergio Busquets of Spain during the penalty shoot-out. EPA
    Morocco goalkeeper Bono saves from Sergio Busquets of Spain during the penalty shoot-out. EPA
  • Dejected Spain players after the match. AFP
    Dejected Spain players after the match. AFP
  • Morocco players celebrate the win. AFP
    Morocco players celebrate the win. AFP
  • Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot-out against Spain. Getty
    Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot-out against Spain. Getty
  • Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrate after the team's victory. Getty
    Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrate after the team's victory. Getty
  • Achraf Hakimi of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty in the shoot-out against Spain. Getty
    Achraf Hakimi of Morocco scores the team's fourth and winning penalty in the shoot-out against Spain. Getty
  • Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scores the winning penalty. Reuters
    Morocco's Achraf Hakimi scores the winning penalty. Reuters
  • Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon watches Morocco's Achraf Hakimi's winning penalty hits the back of the net. AP
    Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon watches Morocco's Achraf Hakimi's winning penalty hits the back of the net. AP
  • Goalkeeper Bono of Morocco saves the third penalty by Sergio Busquets of Spain. Getty
    Goalkeeper Bono of Morocco saves the third penalty by Sergio Busquets of Spain. Getty
  • Morocco players react after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saves a penalty from Spain's Carlos Soler. PA
    Morocco players react after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saves a penalty from Spain's Carlos Soler. PA
  • Morocco's Hakim Ziyech scores a penalty shoot-out. AP
    Morocco's Hakim Ziyech scores a penalty shoot-out. AP
  • Bono of Morocco makes a save against a penalty by Carlos Soler of Spain in the penalty shoot-out. Getty
    Bono of Morocco makes a save against a penalty by Carlos Soler of Spain in the penalty shoot-out. Getty
  • Unai Simon of Spain makes a save against Walid Cheddira of Morocco. Getty
    Unai Simon of Spain makes a save against Walid Cheddira of Morocco. Getty
  • Spain's Marco Asensio hits the side netting with a shot. AP
    Spain's Marco Asensio hits the side netting with a shot. AP
  • Spain's Marco Asensio after hitting the side netting with an attempt on goal. AFP
    Spain's Marco Asensio after hitting the side netting with an attempt on goal. AFP
  • Morocco keeper Bono punches the ball clear. Getty
    Morocco keeper Bono punches the ball clear. Getty
  • Morocco goalkeeper Bono is put under pressure by Marco Asensio of Spain. Getty
    Morocco goalkeeper Bono is put under pressure by Marco Asensio of Spain. Getty
  • Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads a good chance over the bar. AP
    Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads a good chance over the bar. AP
  • Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads the ball over the bar. AFP
    Morocco's Nayef Aguerd heads the ball over the bar. AFP
  • Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain. Getty
    Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco battles for possession with Ferran Torres of Spain. Getty
  • Youssef En-Nesyri, Sergio Busquets and Nayef Aguerd challenge for the ball. EPA
    Youssef En-Nesyri, Sergio Busquets and Nayef Aguerd challenge for the ball. EPA
  • Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui and Spain's Ferran Torres battle. AP
    Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui and Spain's Ferran Torres battle. AP
  • Spain's forward Marco Asensio fights for the ball with Morocco's Romain Ghanem Saiss. AFP
    Spain's forward Marco Asensio fights for the ball with Morocco's Romain Ghanem Saiss. AFP
  • Morocco keeper Bono saves a shot by Spain's Gavi. AP
    Morocco keeper Bono saves a shot by Spain's Gavi. AP
  • Spain manager Luis Enrique talks to Gavi. EPA
    Spain manager Luis Enrique talks to Gavi. EPA
  • Morocco keeper Bono tips a shot from Spain's Gavi on to the bar. Getty
    Morocco keeper Bono tips a shot from Spain's Gavi on to the bar. Getty
  • Spain's Gavi talks to Argentinian referee Fernando Rapallini after fouling Morocco's Sofiane Boufal. AFP
    Spain's Gavi talks to Argentinian referee Fernando Rapallini after fouling Morocco's Sofiane Boufal. AFP
  • Spain's Dani Olmo grimaces in pain. AP
    Spain's Dani Olmo grimaces in pain. AP
  • Spain's Aymeric Laporte challenges for the ball against Morocco's Walid Cheddira. AP
    Spain's Aymeric Laporte challenges for the ball against Morocco's Walid Cheddira. AP
  • Morocco's Nayef Aguerd walks off the pitch after picking up an injury. AP
    Morocco's Nayef Aguerd walks off the pitch after picking up an injury. AP
  • Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech talks with coach Walid Regragui. AFP
    Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech talks with coach Walid Regragui. AFP
  • Morocco's goalkeeper Bono punches clear. AFP
    Morocco's goalkeeper Bono punches clear. AFP
  • Aymeric Laporte of Spain is booked. EPA
    Aymeric Laporte of Spain is booked. EPA

'A gift to all of Morocco' - Bono celebrates World Cup win against Spain


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

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.

  • 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

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Company%20Profile
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ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

Updated: December 07, 2022, 10:29 AM