Africa to witness its first World Cup semi-final. Pushed by more than 30 thousand spectators, Morocco beat Portugal (1-0) and becomes the first African nation to reach the last four.
Walid Regragui and his players have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup. After holding Croatia in check in the first round (0-0), beating Belgium (2-0) and eliminating Spain in a penalty shootout, they just knocked out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. Historic moments for the Atlas Lions whose teeth are only getting sharper.
En-Nesyri has put Morocco on the map. Strongly criticized before the World Cup and even after the first match against Croatia (0-0), the Sevilla striker showed once again in these first 45 minutes against Portugal that he was very unpredictable. It is him who, with a beautiful header, allowed the Moroccans to go to the break with the advantage of the score (1-0) and to validate their beautiful first period.
The strategy of Walid Regragui’s men in this match did not change. We let the ball first to the opponent at the recovery, we use the technical accuracy of the midfielders to hurt. And in this game, Azzedine Ounahi was again essential in the device of the Atlas Lions. The Moroccan No. 8, as Luis Enrique called him, who did not know him at all, put the Portuguese midfield to the test, with his dribbling and his ease to break the whole opposing block with his runs. His teammates would have killed the match several times if they had exploited his shifts well and be more accurate in front of the gaol.
In spite of the accumulated fatigue, the exit of the captain Romain Saiss due to injury and the push of the Portuguese, the Moroccan fortress held on. The Atlas Lions did not flinch and maintained their first half lead. On Wednesday, they will be the first Africans to play a World Cup semi-final. It will be against France who beat England 2-1. The legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who entered the game after the break, may have played his last World Cup match.
🤩 Moroccan history and the champions triumph again!
Another thrilling day completed the Semi-final line-up.#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/T6LqOhGXur
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 11, 2022
