Morocco wrote World Cup history on Saturday night as the first African and Arab country to reach the tournament’s semi-finals, continuing their surprise run in Qatar with a shock 1-0 victory over the highly fancied Portugal.
Reuters
The result will be widely celebrated across Africa and the Arabic-speaking Middle East, desperate to see one of their teams in contention for the biggest prize in football. Portugal will see it as a missed opportunity against the lowest-ranked side left in the tournament and a disappointing curtain call for the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who walked down the tunnel at the end of the game in tears.
But the supply quickly dried up thereafter as Morocco closed the passing lanes and frustrated the Portuguese attackers. But seven minutes later, a high ball from the fullback into the Portuguese box was met by a towering header from En-Nesyri, outjumping both goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Ruben Dias to hand Morocco the lead.
Ronaldo’s entry in the 51st minute was met with a loud chorus of jeers, but he did inject a new energy into the Portugal side for whom Goncalo Ramos, the hat-trick hero of their 6-1 win over Switzerland in the previous round, missed with a close-in header in the 58th minute.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Morocco fans ready for quarter final with backing from Africa and Arab worldMoroccan football fans were gathering with friends and family on Saturday to watch their team's World Cup quarter final against Portugal, holding the torch as the last African or Arab country left in the tournament.
Read more »
Morocco: International Organizations Call for the Expulsion of Morocco From the African UnionInternational organizations and associations called for the expulsion of Morocco from the African Union, due to its occupation of parts of the Sahrawi Republic, the founding member of the African Union, during a conference called "From Conflict to Beloved Communities", which held as series of international gatherings on Peace, Justice, and Nonviolence in Juba, South Sudan, from 3 to 21 November 2022.
Read more »
Morocco down Portugal to become first ever African World Cup semi-finalistsThe Atlas Lions, also the first Arab team to make the last four, added Portugal to their list of European scalps with a resolute second-half performance.
Read more »
Morocco down Portugal to become first ever African World Cup semi-finalistsMorocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals as Youssef En-Nesyri's first-half goal sealed a tense 1-0 victory over P...
Read more »
Morocco down Portugal to become first ever African World Cup semi-finalists | The CitizenMorocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals as Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half goal sealed a tense 1-0 victory over Portugal on Saturday at Al Thumama Stadium. ⚽️MARPOR FIFAWorldCup
Read more »