Morocco Becomes Africa’s First World Cup Semifinalist With Win Over Portugal

Morocco made history as the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals with a 1–0 win over Portugal, sending home another European power during a scintillating Cinderella run in Qatar.

After winning a loaded Group F featuring Belgium, Canada and current World Cup semifinalist Croatia, Morocco defeated Spain in a penalty shootout leading into the quarterfinal. And in the biggest game in the nation’s history, the Atlas Lions cobbled together a stalwart performance that saw a 42nd-minute header from Youssef En-Nesyri become the match-winner.

Led by the tactics of manager Walid Regragui, who was hired less than three months before the tournament, Morocco stifled a loaded Portugal attack that was coming off a 6–1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16. Once again, Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench after a Gonçalo Ramos hat trick propelled Portugal over the Swiss, but Portugal had no answer for a Moroccan defense that has conceded only one goal all tournament. 

It was a sturdy, bend-but-don’t-break approach from the Moroccan defense from the very start. João Félix tested Moroccan goalkeeper Bono in the fifth minute when he sent a header on target from a Bruno Fernandes free kick that required a strong save from the Sevilla keeper.

But Morocco countered with a brilliant chance of their own off a corner as En-Nesyri found himself with an open header that he sent over the bar.

In the 18th minute, Hakim Ziyech returned with another chance for Morocco, sending a low shot from just outside the box that didn’t miss the post by much.

João Félix created another close call in the 31st minute when he pounced on a loose ball and saw his shot deflected by a Moroccan defender as the ball fell just wide.

In the 35th minute, Morocco put together its clearest chance yet with a concerted drive down the field. Yahia Attiyat Allah sent in a cross that found Selim Amallah open inside the box, but Amallah’s shot went well over the bar.

Morocco kept pushing forward and, in the 42nd minute, was rewarded with the lead thanks to En-Nesyri. Attiyat Allah once again sent in a dangerous cross as En-Nesyri rose above Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Rúben Dias to take the 1–0 lead. It was the Sevilla striker’s third goal of the tournament.

Just minutes into the second half, Morocco nearly doubled its lead after Ziyech sent a sharp free kick into the area. Jawad El Yamiq appeared to flick the cross toward goal, forcing Costa into action with a quick save.

One minute later, Santos brought Ronaldo on as a substitute to lead Portugal’s attack after struggling to break through.

In the 58th minute, Ramos had a wide-open chance right in front of goal with a header from point-blank range, but the Benfica forward sent his shot well wide.

Portugal piled on the pressure with Bruno Fernandes barely missing the target in the 64th minute when his open shot from the edge of the area curled inches over the bar.

Portugal continued to push forward, but couldn’t manage to hit the target with still only one shot on goal in the entire match. In the 83rd minute, João Félix gave Portugal another golden chance with an impressive strike from the edge of the box that required a leaping save from Bono to preserve the lead.

In the 91st minute, Ronaldo had a prime chance at goal when he broke away from the Morocco defense, but his chance on goal was saved by Bono at the near post.

With less than six minutes of stoppage time remaining, Walid Cheddira was sent off with his second yellow card, sending the Atlas Lions down to 10 men.

Zakaria Aboukhlal came close to doubling the Morocco lead in the 96th minute when he was sent through on goal with just the keeper to beat as Portugal had everyone up in attack. But Costa made himself big and made the stop.

Portugal’s last chance came in the 97th minute as Pepe found himself at the far post where he headed a cross just wide.

Morocco will now face the winner of France vs. England in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday.

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Here were the lineups for both sides:

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Full World Cup squads

Morocco

GOALKEEPERS: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir Mohamedi (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad AC)

DEFENDERS: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad AC), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Achraf Dari (Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Roman Saiss (Besiktas)

MIDFIELDERS: Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Bilal El Khannous (Genk), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad AC), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria), Anass Zaroury (Burnley)

FORWARDS: Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)

Midfielder Amine Harit was hurt playing for Marseille after initially being selected and was forced to withdraw from the competition.

COACH: Walid Regragui

Portugal

GOALKEEPERS: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Patrício (AS Roma), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

DEFENDERS: João Cancelo (Manchester City), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Pepe (Porto), Danilo Pereira (PSG), António Silva (Benfica),

MIDFIELDERS: William Carvalho (Real Betis), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), João Mário (Benfica), Otávio Monteiro (Porto), Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), João Palhinha (Fulham), , Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (PSG)

FORWARDS: João Félix (Atlético Madrid), Ricardo Horta (Braga), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Gonçalo Ramos (Benfica), Cristiano Ronaldo (Unattached), André Silva (RB Leipzig)

COACH: Fernando Santos