Qatar 2022: Morocco Breaks 92 Year Agelong African Jinx Against Portugal, What More?

For the first time since the inception of the FIFA World in 1930, an African side has earned the right to dine with the four best teams of the world. Indeed, each of the previous three African sides that reached a quarter-final were all eliminated at this stage: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.

En Nesyri rose highest to head home a peach of a cross from full-back Attiyat Allah to make sure Africa’s 92-year-old disastrous run came to an end.

Coach Walid Regragui tweaked his team a little, bringing on Wydad Athletic Club left back, Attiat-Allah for injured Mazraoui, and Yamiq for Aguerd in defence.

Portugal, hot from a 6-1 walloping against Switzerland started brightest. Bounou reacted sharply to dive down to his left and turned behind Joao Felix’s diving header, which was sent towards the centre of the goal! It came via a superb cross from Fernandes’ right-sided free-kick with 5 minutes on the clock.

Two minutes later, Ziyech’s outswinging corner, was spurned by En-Nesyri who; mistimed a free header from only a few yards out which sent the ball over the crossbar.

En Nesyri was lurking and got another chance. This time, the striker turned Ziyech’s inswinging free-kick over the crossbar when he was virtually unmarked in the area – at the 26th minute.

Portugal replied a minute after the half hour mark. Joa Felix met a drop ball with a half-volley from the edge of the box, but his goalbound effort was blocked at close range by El Yamiq, who had previously failed to clear his lines. That was a rare opening in the first half for the Selecao.

At the third time of asking, En-Nesyri stroke in the 43rd minute. Having missed two earlier headed chances, the Sevilla striker leaped brilliantly to beat Costa to a cross from the left by Attiyat-Allah. He nodded the ball into the back of the unguarded net; putting the Atlas Lions 1-0 ahead just before the break.

At the cusp of halftime, Fernandez clipped the face of the crossbar, following Dalot’s flick-on from the flank. It was an instinctive strike, which left Bounou beaten, but ultimately bounced away to safety as it ended 1-0 in the first half.

Costa made a stop to keep the game 1-0 after the halftime interval. He reacted sharply to repel the ball at close quarters, after El Yamiq connected with a Ziyech free-kick from the right flank. The goalkeeper opened his body and kept the ball out, before the rebound stroke the defender again and went behind.

With the game at a nail-edge, Fernando Santos threw in Ronaldo and and Cancello.

Injury stared in Morocco’s defence again. Skipper Saiss made way for Dari.

Ramos wasn’t having things his way after his hat-trick in the r16s against Switzerland. However, left in space near the penalty spot, Ramos headed Otavio’s cross wide of the target! It was a presentable chance, of which he was been starved up until the 56th minute.

Four minutes after the hour mark, having been fed by Silva on the edge of the box, Fernandes let fly with a powerful strike, which rose narrowly over the crossbar.

Regragui made further changes bringing on Cheddira and Benoun in places of Amallah and En Nesyri.

By contrast with his incredible impact against Switzerland, Ramos endured a frustrating shift. He made way for winger Leao up at the 69th minute.

Bounou made arguably the save of the game with seven minutes of regular playing time left. He flung himself up to the top-right of his goal to palm away a thunderous strike from Joao Felix, who received the ball from Ronaldo’s layoff on the edge of the box.

The keepee denied Felix one minute into borrowed time (90+1). The Seville man popped up with a save low down in the centre of his goal, after the striker wrapped his foot around a throughball to the brink of the box. It was no more than a half-chance, but Portugal needed something – anything – to go.

Morocco had their work made even more difficult when a clumsy challenge on Joao Felix saw Cheddira receive his second yellow card, and the substitute striker was sent off. Morocco were a man light with five minutes of stoppage time left.

The North Africans could have added another in added on time. Costa kept Portugal in it. Attiyat-Allah released Aboukhlal through the centre, with two Portugal defenders left in his wake, but the latter only tried a chip straight into the chest of the goalkeeper.

Morocco will play the semis on Wednesday, Dec. 14 against the winners of England/France.