Doha, December 10 (QNA) - The Moroccan national team continued making history in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by qualifying for the semi-finals, an unprecedented accomplishment for an Arab and an African team.
Morocco achieved its fourth successive victory during this years tournament and the sixth in the history of its six participations in the World Cup.
The Moroccan squad started its campaign with a goalless draw with Croatia, the runner-up of the previous 2018 Russia edition. The Atlas Lions then beat Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 to qualify for the round of sixteen, when it defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties and achieved a historic qualification to the quarterfinals.
The Moroccan squad then continued to shine by ousting Portugal, reaching to the greatest Arab and African achievement in a World Cup by qualifying for the semi-finals.
This is Moroccos second victory over Portugal in a World Cup, where it won 3-1 in the 1986 edition. By todays victory, the Moroccan national team took revenge for its loss in the last match which was in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, when Portugal won the match 1-0.
The Atlas Lions will face in the next round their French counterpart, the defending champion, at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Moroccan squad continued to make history during this tournament. Just as it was the first Arab and African team to reach the round of 16, it did it again and became the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals, achieving what the Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) teams failed to do.
Coach Walid Regragui's boys played bravely against Portugal, the team that crushed Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16, and kept their nets clean, confirming Morocco's eligibility to be considered as having the best defense in this edition so far.
Youssef En-Nesyri imposed himself as the star of the match by scoring the only goal, his second in the current tournament and the third in two World Cup participations.
Likewise did goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who brilliantly defended his goal and was chosen as best player.
Portugal, on the other hand, failed to reach the semi-finals for the third time in its history, after the 1966 edition, when it finished third, and the 2006 edition, when it finished fourth. (QNA)