The streets of Morocco have turned wild as football lovers from Rabat to Marakesh and Africa at large, celebrate their country qualifying for the semifinals of the Qatar World Cup 2022.
The Atlas Lions officially etched their name down in history as the first African nation to qualify for the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup, after defeating European heavyweights Portugal 1-0.
Morocco Coach Redragui’s solid defensive structure was up to the task as Portugal looked more threatening and dominant from the onset of the game, trying and testing goalkeeper Yassin Bono’s hands.
Read Also: Morocco stuns Belgium 2-0 in another World Cup 2022 shocker
Yet it was Morocco who took the lead following En-Neysri’s far-reaching header (42′) to burry Atiyat-Allah’s cross into the back of the net, after a brilliantly timed leap.
Morocco’s first-half goal had Portugal on the backfoot just before the break, keeping their impressive defensive form and managing to contain Portugal, who menacingly searched for that valuable equaliser.
Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure as he helplessly watched on from the bench having failed to make the staring 11, as A Selecao went a goal down.
Read Also: Morocco Wins on Penalties To Eliminate Spain in the 2022 Qatar World Cup Round of 16
The former Manchester United forward eventually got his chance to restore parity when he came on in the second half alongside Manchester City defender Jaoa Cancelo.
All eyes were on Yassine Bono, who saved Morocco from extra time or penalty shootouts, as has been the norm in the last two quarter-finals, to see off an impressive Portuguese attack.
Joao Felix came agonisingly close on several occasions but Bono was at his finest form to keep a clean sheet to carry his team through to the next stage of the tournament.
Walid Chedira’s clumsy challenge on Felix got him sent off during additional time, just before the referee blew the final whistle.
Morocco’s relentless mindset and hard work, coupled with their water-tight and determined defence, was enough to see them hold on to their 1-0 lead and survive a hard-fought second half.
Despite Brazil getting knocked out, football legend Pele’s dream of seeing an African team win the World Cup has come one step closer to materialising, after Morocco’s historic quarterfinal win.
Morocco is currently the only team to advance to the semifinal undefeated with England (also undefeated) yet to play France in the last quarterfinal of the tournament this evening at Al Bayt Stadium.
