Morocco Penalty Shootout Record: World Cup, AFCON and Major Tournaments

Morocco has won five of nine penalty shootouts across major tournaments, a 55.6% success rate. Their record includes perfect World Cup shootouts against Spain in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2026, alongside mixed AFCON results, including losses to Algeria and Benin but a win over Nigeria in 2025. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has anchored much of this recent success. The full breakdown reveals how each tournament shaped this steadily improving record.

Morocco’s Penalty Shootout Record at a Glance

Morocco’s shootout ledger tells a story of steady improvement rather than sudden fortune. The morocco penalty shootout record stands at nine shootouts, five wins and four losses across major tournaments, a 55.6% success rate. The atlas lions shootout record shows particular strength on the world’s biggest stage, with world cup shootout wins against Spain in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2026 giving Morocco a perfect record at that level. Beyond continental play, Morocco also claimed a flawless African Nations Championship shootout record, further highlighting their composure under pressure. This poise under pressure mirrors the resilience seen in Morocco’s longest unbeaten runs, where composure and steady improvement have defined some of the team’s most memorable eras.

How Many Penalty Shootouts Has Morocco Played?

A handful of nations have faced the lottery of penalties on football’s grandest stages, and the Atlas Lions belong firmly among them.

Morocco penalty shootout history spans nine shootouts across the World Cup, AFCON, the African Nations Championship, the FIFA Arab Cup and World Cup qualification. That record breaks down to five wins and four losses, a 55.6 percent success rate.

The Atlas Lions penalty shootout story is most celebrated in Morocco World Cup penalties, where the team remains unbeaten in two attempts. Morocco’s run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals stands as the nation’s best-ever finish in the tournament’s history. Across the tournament’s history, shootouts have only reached sudden death on three occasions after being tied at the end of five kicks.

AFCON tells a tougher tale, with two losses outweighing a single win across three shootouts.

Morocco vs Spain at the 2022 World Cup

None of Morocco’s nine shootouts carries more weight than the one played on 6 December 2022 against Spain.

At Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, the Round of 16 match finished 0-0 after extra time, with Spain dominating possession near 75 percent yet managing just one shot on target. The match was played before an attendance of 44,667 fans.

Morocco Spain penalties 2022 ended 3-0, with every Moroccan attempt converted while Spain missed all three.

This shootout stands among Morocco’s shootout wins as the most significant, sending the Atlas Lions to their first-ever World Cup quarter-final, a benchmark still referenced ahead of any morocco 2026 penalty shootout discussion. This victory capped a remarkable run through World Cup qualifying that had already established Morocco as a side capable of historic achievements.

Morocco’s 2026 World Cup Penalty Shootout

In Monterrey, Mexico, Morocco extended its record of penalty shootout success at the 2026 World Cup, defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties in a round-of-32 tie after the match finished 1-1 following extra time. Issa Diop’s stoppage-time header cancelled out Cody Gakpo’s opener, forcing extra time and then spot-kicks.

The shootout was chaotic, with four misses and a goalkeeper own goal. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s effort, keeping Morocco’s shootout losses tally unchanged. Bounou’s penalty-saving reputation dates back to his heroics at the 2022 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, tournaments that helped establish him as the heart of the Atlas Lions. Ismael Saibari converted the winning kick, extending Morocco’s penalties record and sending the team through to face Canada in the round of 16.

Morocco’s AFCON Penalty Shootouts

Africa’s biggest tournament proved a difficult stage for Morocco’s penalty-taking record until 2026. Morocco AFCON penalties history began with a 4-3 quarter-final loss to Algeria in 1988, after the match finished level through 120 minutes.

Three decades later, at AFCON 2019, Benin eliminated Morocco 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the round of 16, with Bounou unable to prevent the defeat. That left Morocco winless in two shootouts. Away from shootouts, Morocco were also beaten in normal play in the AFCON quarter-finals by Egypt in extra time, a match that ended Egypt 2–1 Morocco. This tournament heartbreak stood in contrast to Morocco’s steady rise as a footballing nation, built on structural investment in youth development.

The pattern finally broke at AFCON 2026, when Bounou starred as Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final, reaching a first final since 2004.

Other Major Tournament Shootouts

Beyond continental competition, the World Cup stage has produced Morocco’s most celebrated penalty shootout moments. Across all major tournaments, Morocco has contested nine senior shootouts, winning five for a win ratio near 55 percent. One loss came during World Cup qualification, separate from the two World Cup shootout victories already noted. Morocco’s identity as the Atlas Lions has become synonymous with resilience in these high-pressure moments.

The most meaningful stretch, though, is recent: three consecutive shootout wins, against Spain at the 2022 World Cup, Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON, and the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup. That run shows a team that has learned to handle shootout pressure when tournaments demand it most. The third win in that streak was actually secured against Senegal at the African Nations Championship 2025, not the Netherlands.

Morocco’s Best Penalty-Shootout Performers

One name recurs across Morocco’s biggest shootout moments: Yassine Bounou. He saved three penalties against Spain in 2022, denied Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi against Nigeria in the 2025 AFCON semifinal, and stopped Crysencio Summerville against the Netherlands in 2026.

Across those three shootouts, opponents converted just 4 of 12 attempts against him. Among takers, Achraf Hakimi has been Morocco’s most consistent scorer, converting against Spain and Nigeria. Opta’s data shows Bono has become known for his 33% save conversion rate across these major tournament shootouts.

Abdelhamid Sabiri opened the scoring versus Spain, Youssef En-Nesyri sealed the win over Nigeria, and Ismael Saibari struck the decisive kick against the Netherlands. Defender Jawad El Yamiq, known for his composure under pressure, has also emerged as a reliable presence for Morocco during these high-stakes tournament moments.

Goalkeepers and the Atlas Lions’ Shootout Record

Nine shootouts define Morocco’s record in major competitions, and the Atlas Lions have won five of them for a 55.6 percent success rate. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou anchors that success, going 2-0 in World Cup shootouts against Spain in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2026. Morocco’s shootout heroics build on a legacy established by Badou Zaki, the legendary goalkeeper who helped define the nation’s footballing identity decades earlier.

Bounou saved two penalties against Spain, becoming the first African goalkeeper to do so in a World Cup shootout, and denied Nigeria twice during the 2025 AFCON semifinal. Morocco’s record varies by tournament: perfect at the World Cup, but just 1-2 in AFCON shootouts, showing how much a single reliable goalkeeper can shift outcomes. That 2022 shootout victory sent Morocco into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the nation’s history.

Penalties in Normal Time vs Penalty Shootouts

Regarding how Morocco actually reaches its knockout results, a clear distinction separates penalties awarded during normal play from those taken in a shootout after 120 scoreless minutes. Spot kicks inside regulation are rare for Morocco; at the 2026 World Cup, the team conceded none in normal time, reflecting disciplined defending inside the box.

Shootouts, however, have repeatedly decided its fate. Across World Cup, AFCON and qualifying history, Morocco has faced roughly eight or nine shootouts, winning close to half. This makes the shootout, not the in-game penalty, the more decisive and recurring factor shaping Morocco’s tournament progression. Morocco’s list of iconic victories also includes dramatic knockout wins that showcase big scoreline wins as part of its broader tournament identity. Notably, Morocco’s recent shootout success includes a win against Spain at last World Cup.

How Morocco’s Shootout Record Compares Across Eras

Across nine major-tournament shootouts, Morocco’s record splits sharply by competition and era, revealing a team that struggled from the spot for decades before becoming one of the format’s most reliable performers.

Early AFCON history brought only losses, including 1988 against Algeria and 2019 against Benin, leaving that competition’s shootout win rate at just 33%.

World Cup shootouts tell a different story entirely: two played, two won, against Spain in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2026. Much of that shootout heroics belongs to Mohammed Hazzaz, a goalkeeper whose penalty-stopping instincts have become central to the Atlas Lions’ identity.

Combined with the 2025 AFCON win over Nigeria, Morocco now enters any shootout on a three-match winning streak across its biggest tournaments. Much of that recent success traces to one goalkeeper’s 15 career saves across these high-pressure moments.

How This Record Is Counted

Counting shootouts accurately requires a strict definition, since not every penalty kick a team takes belongs in the same category. Only tie-breaking shootouts after extra time, recognized by organizers like FIFA, CAF or UAFA, count toward Morocco’s official record. Each shootout counts as one event, win or loss, regardless of how many kicks occur. Competitions tracked include the World Cup, AFCON, CHAN, the Arab Cup and World Cup qualification playoffs, such as the 1978 shootout against Tunisia. Two-legged ties and knockout rounds each add a single entry, so AFCON 2025’s win over Nigeria and any 2026 World Cup shootout count separately.

FAQs About Morocco Penalty Shootouts

Several questions come up often when discussing Morocco’s history with penalty shootouts at major tournaments. These range from Morocco’s perfect record at the World Cup, including the famous 2022 win over Spain, to its more mixed history at the Africa Cup of Nations. Another common point of confusion involves the difference between a penalty scored during regulation or extra time and one taken in a shootout, a distinction that matters for keeping the record accurate.

What is Morocco’s World Cup penalty-shootout record?

Two World Cup shootouts, two wins: Morocco has never lost a penalty shootout on football’s biggest stage.

The first came in 2022 against Spain in the Round of 16, won 3-0 after a scoreless draw through extra time, with Yassine Bounou saving two kicks.

The second arrived in 2026 against the Netherlands in the Round of 32, following a 1-1 draw, won 3-2 in a chaotic shootout featuring five missed kicks.

Both wins came against European opposition in knockout rounds.

Morocco has scored 6 of 9 penalties across these shootouts, a 67% conversion rate, for a perfect World Cup record.

Who did Morocco beat on penalties in 2022?

Spain fell to Morocco on penalties in the 2022 World Cup round of 16, a result that still stands as the defining shootout in Moroccan football history.

Played at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on 6 December 2022, the match finished 0–0 after extra time. Morocco won the shootout 3–0, converting through Abdelhamid Sabiri, Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi, whose Panenka-style finish sealed the win.

Spain missed all three attempts, with Pablo Sarabia hitting the post and Yassine Bounou saving efforts from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. The victory sent Morocco into the quarter-finals for the first time.

Has Morocco won an AFCON shootout?

Yes, Morocco has won an AFCON penalty shootout, though not often. The clearest example came in the 2025 AFCON semifinal in Rabat, where Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw, advancing to the final. That win stands out because Morocco’s overall AFCON shootout history leans toward disappointment.

The team has lost shootouts to Tunisia in the 1981 final, to Nigeria and Benin during the 2005 tournament, and again to Tunisia in 2021. So while Morocco can celebrate the Nigeria triumph, its AFCON penalty record remains mixed rather than dominant.

Do penalty kicks during a match count as a shootout?

Why do fans often confuse a match-deciding shootout with a penalty kick awarded during play? The two are governed by different rules.

A penalty kick, under Law 14, results from a foul or handball inside the box during normal or extra time, and it counts as a regular goal in the match score.

A shootout, by contrast, uses “kicks from the penalty mark,” a separate tie-breaking procedure held only after the final whistle. Shootout goals never count toward player or team goal tallies.

Final Thoughts

Rarely does a national team’s penalty shootout history tell such a clear story of improvement over time. Morocco’s overall record, 5 wins in 9 shootouts, hides a sharper truth: recent results outshine the past.

The team is unbeaten in World Cup shootouts, having beaten Spain in 2022 and the Netherlands in 2026. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been central to that shift, saving or forcing misses on two-thirds of penalties he has faced.

AFCON remains less consistent, but the 2025 win over Nigeria suggests progress there too. Morocco now enters shootouts with genuine confidence, backed by preparation rather than chance.