Morocco have reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African team to reach the top tier after a 1-0 win over Portugal.
Morocco 1-0 Portugal
Goal: Anne Neisseri (42′)
Morocco will become the first African team to compete in a FIFA World Cup ™ semi-final after a gutsy, back-to-the-wall victory over Portugal at Althoma Stadium 1-0.
Yusuf N Nesri was the hero for injury-hit Atlas Lions with a stunning first-half header that continued the team’s fairytale run at Qatar 2022.
The Moroccans were always formidable outsiders against the star-studded Seleção das Quinas, and their woes were compounded before kick-off with the news that key defenders Naif Agourd and Nossir Mazrawi were both out with injury. has been done.
To make matters worse, injured warrior Romain Saiss – another talented man at the back – tried to play but was eventually forced off in tears early in the second half clutching his heavily strapped hamstring. given. But although it left the Moroccans holding out against their heavyweight European rivals, they did just that.
Portugal had moments either side of half-time, with Bruno Fernandes rattling the bar, Yassin Bono making some brilliant saves to deny Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Pepe heading wide in stoppage time when he scored. It seemed easy.
But the Atlas Lions could have scored more from that lone, all-important El Nesri header, and no one can question that the team – fresh from boosting their tournament-leading defensive record with another clean sheet – It’s worth it. place in the last four.
However, they will compete in the semi-final without Waleed Chedera, who was sent off in the 93rd minute after picking up two yellow cards within 60 seconds, further weakening Regergui’s options for Wednesday’s historic clash. gone.
The key moment
There will be better goal scores than En-Nesyri’s in this World Cup. However, it is unlikely that one would score from a great leap – one that Ronaldo, again on the bench, would no doubt be proud of – than the one produced by the Moroccan striker.
Diego Costa won’t want to see him back, making an ill-advised rush from goal in a futile attempt to reach a long, speculative cross. But all credit goes to the centre-forward for a perfectly timed leap and powerful header that sparked scenes of joy far beyond this magnificent stadium.
Key stat
Morocco became the fourth African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, following in the footsteps of Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010). No one from the mother continent, however, had ever made it to the last four – until now!
Player of the match
Yassin Bono (Morocco)
Quotations
“It’s really, really, really unbelievable. I’m so proud. We deserve it 1000 percent. It’s just how we fight and how we play, with our hearts, for our country and for our people. . We had some injuries and to have three guards go in and defend like that, big respect. Big respect to everybody — the fans, the coach, everybody.”
Soufian Amrabat, Moroccan midfielder
“The locker room was really down. We were devastated. I believed that with the work and quality of the players we could give the Portuguese people some joy – that we could make it to the final and win it.” Why am I and everyone else doomed.”
Fernando Santos, Portugal coach