The Atlas Lions of Morocco, the only remaining African team became the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals thanks to Youssef En- Nesyri’s first-half winner against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to continue the competition’s sparkling run.
Football fans, especially those from Africa, the Arab-speaking middle east, and the rest of the world, continued to be served the tantalizing meal to the fullest of the ongoing FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar.
Walid Regragui, Morocco’s head coach words before the quarterfinal ‘that Morocco isn’t finished at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar’ referencing the electric atmosphere that has accompanied his team at every game indeed came to pass.
“Before it was just the Moroccans who supported us, now it is the Africans and Arabs,” Regragui alluded
Yahya Attiat-Allah of Morocco lofted a ball in front of the Portugal goal in the 42nd minute, and Youssef En-Nesyri of Portugal leapt high over goalkeeper Diogo Costa to head it in, becoming the first Moroccan player to score at two World Cups.
The Regragui’s men are the talk of the tournament after they kept up their winning ways, thrilled the crowd, and dazzled the World Cup’s international audience by holding fellow semifinalist Croatia to a draw in the group stage, thrashing Belgium, Spain, and now Portugal in Qatar on their majestic way to the semifinal stage, becoming the first African team to ever reach the international soccer competition’s semi-finals.
Bruno Fernandes struck the crossbar, Goncalo Ramos missed from close range, and Bernardo Silva missed from a good position, but not even the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo in the 51st minute, who was once again benched by his manager Fernando Santos.
The North African team, which had previously become the first from the Arab region to reach the quarterfinals, has now also made it to the semifinals.
Fans have gathered in large numbers throughout Doha and the Arab globe to support their underdog squad.
With the World Cup taking place in Qatar, the first time it has been staged in a Middle Eastern country, the football world is still enjoying the news, characterizing it as a victory for Africa and for Arab nations.
“Yesssss! MashaAllah Morocco making Africa proud! Making Palestine proud! Making Muslims proud! Making us all proud! Al hamdulilah!” Dr. Omar Suleiman, an imam and professor at Southern Methodist University, wrote in a tweet.
Yassine “Bono” Bounou, the Moroccan goalie, played sensationally as he ensured that none of Morocco’s World Cup opponents, especially Croatia, Belgium, Spain, or Portugal, were able to score. The single goal, an own goal by Morocco that was given credit to Canada.
Goalkeeper Bono made heroic saves from Joao Felix and Ronaldo, but Pepe squandered a golden opportunity in the eighth minute of stoppage time, which also saw substitute forward Walid Cheddira sent for receiving two quick-fire yellow cards.
