Kenneth AFOR, LAGOS
Morocco’s current achievement at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar can be traced to the level of development of football domestically – their local leagues to the professional level.
READ ALSO: Wakanda 4ever: Morocco makes Afrika proud, defeats Ronaldo’s Portugal
Also, it will not be wrong to add that individual’s level of patriotism at every game since the start of the mundial has helped the country to the semi final of the stage of the tournament.
Morocco’s performance so far alongside the four other African representatives – Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal and Cameroon had been top notch being the only team in the whole competition that has conceded just one goal from the group stage even to the knockout stages.
The Atlas Lions as they are called pulled a goalless draw against Real Madrid’s midfield marshal Lukas Modric’s national team, Croatia in their opening group game and went on to defeat second FIFA ranked team, Belgium 2-0 before ditching Canada 2-1 in their last group game being the only country representing Africa to win two group games.
When the lot fell on Spain – the 2010 champions many thought it was all over for Africa but the boys showed fearlessness and raw football to beat the Spaniards 3-0 on penalties with the help of their goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou.
The football world stood still until after the final whistle which kicked out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal from the tournament last Saturday. Morocco managed to defend their one goal lead scored by Youssef En-Nesyri’s 42nd minute.
Destiny awaits the likes of the former Chelsea player, Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi, their prolific goalkeeper, Bounou and their coach, Walid Regragui, who only took over in last August as they take on France’s heavyweights – Kylian Mbappé, Antione Griezman, Oliver Giroud who are the defending champions on Wednesday, December 14.
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