The Atlas Lions have clinched a spot in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1986 by defeating the already-eliminated Canadians 2-1 on Thursday, mercilessly, capitalizing on their opponents blunders.

Hakim Ziyech scored the first goal at minute 4 for Morocco, who needed just a draw in their final Group F match to qualify, Reuters reported.

Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri doubled the lead in the 23rd minute when he ran onto a long ball from Achraf Hakimi and beat Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan at the near post.

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With Croatia drawing with Belgium in the other Group F game, Morocco finish first in the group and will face the second-place finishers in Group E, made up of Japan, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica.

Morocco is one of six Muslim countries who qualified for the competition, holding high hopes of reaching as far as possible in the international tournament. It is the second Muslim country to reach the knockout stage after Senegal.