For the very first time in football history, there will be an African side at the semifinal of a World Cup thanks to Moroccan heroics against favourites Portugal.
The Atlas Lions made history on Saturday by becoming the first ever African team to make it to the World Cup semifinal by beating Portugal 1-nil in Qatar, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of adding the world’s most prestigious trophy to his record-breaking stream of accolades.
A thumping header by Youssef En-Nesyri in the first half gave the lively Atlas Lions a deserved lead from a cross five minutes before half-time.
Portugal began the game as favourites to beat the North Africans who despite claiming major scalps against Spain in a round of 16 knockout tie and Belgium in the group stages, were the underdogs.
They created the better chances in the first half before the goal which they would go on to protect with some stoic defending in the second half as the Europeans upped the ante.
Cristiano Ronaldo who began the game on the bench missed a glorious chance to bring his side level after being introduced in the second half while Bruno Fernandes and Bernado Silva endured a frustrating evening against a Moroccan defense who refused to budge and offered very little by way of chances.
Portugal’s veteran and vice captain Pepe had the best chance to level with an almost free header which he guided just wide of Bono’s goal.
As the tournament’s meanest defense, conceding just one goal after five games, the Atlas Lions rode their luck with waves after wave of Portuguese forays into their half as the Europeans chased the game to no avail, foiled at one stage by the brilliant Bono who turned away Silva’s angled shot which was destined for the top corner before the Moroccan keeper made a crucial touch to it and guided it over the crossbar.
The Atlas Lions did break a few times and could have extended their lead five minutes to the end but desperate defending by Portugal kept them at bay.
At the end of eight minutes of a pulsating contest between Portuguese attacking intent and Moroccan defensive masterclass, there were scenes of wild jubilations at the final whistle from the thousands of Moroccan fans who had outnumbered their Portuguese counterparts at the stadium.
Morocco’s berth into the semifinal of the World Cup is a historic first for Africa and the Arab world in the 92-year history of the competitions and the importance of this achievement was gleaned in the enthusiastic celebration across Africa, from Rabat in the north to Kinshasa in the centre and Lusaka in southern Africa.
Prior to Morocco’s unprecedented feat, only three Africans sides had made it to the quarterfinal stage of the World Cup, namely Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.
WN/as/APA