THE shocks at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup continued today as two-time champions Germany were knocked out at the group stages for the first time ever and newcomers Morocco advanced to the round of 16 to join fellow African teams Nigeria and South Africa.
Germany, the team ranked No.2 in the world, followed fellow favourites Brazil out of the tournament after a 1-1 draw with South Korea in Brisbane, Australia today.
Cho Sohyun shot Korea to a shock lead in the eighth minute and it took Germany until three minutes to half-time before Alexandra Popp equalised for the 2003 and 2007 champions.
Tried as Germany did, they could not get the second goal that would have secured them passage to the knockout rounds, even with over 15 minutes of stoppage time played in the second half.
With the draw, Germany and South Korea were eliminated, the former finishing third in Group H with four points and the latter ending up in bottom spot with one point.
The two tickets to the round of 16 were shared by Morocco and Colombia after the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations runners-up defeated the South Americans 1-0 in Perth, Australia.
Anissa Lahmari scored the game’s only goal in first-half added time, seconds after Ghizlane Chebbak had failed to convert from the penalty spot.
Colombia topped the group with six points, ahead of Morocco on goal difference.
This is the first time ever as many as three African teams will be advancing to the knockout rounds of a Women’s World Cup, the previous best being in 2019 when Nigeria and Cameroon reached the round of 16.
Morocco will face France in Adelaide on Tuesday while Colombia will battle Jamaica in Melbourne on the same day for spots in the quarter-finals.
