Qatar 2022: Morocco Breaks 92 Years Jinx, Becomes First African Team To Reach World Cup Semi Finals

By Akinwale Kasali

No one gave them a chance. They proved bookmakers wrong.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco, against all odds has defeated Cristiano Ronaldo- Captained Portuguese National Team at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

By this defeat, Morocco has become the first African Nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup to reach the Semi Finals of the World Soccer Showpiece.

An El-Neysri 42nd Minute strike was all the Moroccan team needed to break the 92 Year old jinx.

Though the victory was surprising as many had said the victory recorded by the Moroccans against Former World Cup Champions Spain and highly ranked Belgium was a fluke, but the Coach Walid Regragui side proved their mettle as a contender for the world fiesta.

Despite a 90th minutes red card shown to striker Omar Cheddiri, the Moroccans remained unperturbed as they defended their lone goal with their last blood to make history.

Sevilla Football Club of Morocco Goalkeeper, Mohammed Bono showed why he remains the undisputed number one for both Club and Country by denying Ronaldo and Joao Felix from getting an equalizer and stretching the match into extra time.

This is historic for Africa, as the Moroccans who are underrated and were classed as pushovers came top of their Group that had Belgium, Croatia and Canada, before humbling Spain and now Portugal, dashing the hope of Ronaldo who is probably playing his last World Cup, possibly sending him into retirement for the National side.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Black Stars of Ghana were the only African team to have reached the Quarterfinals of the international showpiece in Italia 1990, Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco will face the winner of the match between France and England in the Quarter Finals slated for Wednesday, December 14th 2022.