History awaits Morocco as they can become the first African ever to reach the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup with a win today.
The believe is there for Walid Regragui and his minions, who are still yet to concede a goal from an opposing player since the appointment of their record breaking manager, while they’ve only conceded two shots on target so for in Qatar 2022.
Many will fancy them to take the initiative in a tournament that has already graced us with thrillers and unbeatable upsets because it is believed that the 22nd edition still has more shockers in store.
For Portugal, they couldn’t have gotten a better chance to at least equal their best run of a semi final finish in the tournament with the Atlas Lions in their way to achieving that.
On papers, they are huge favourites but Morocco will be no pushovers, having remain unbeaten till this stage albeit they’ve come up against the likes of Belgium, Croatia and yet yet not concede a goal, even in shout-out.
However, Portugal will still carry the favourite tag into the match and breaking a resolute Morocco defense earlier will be key to emerging winners.
From Bruno Fernandes to Joao Felix and then Gonçalo Ramos, not forgetting Rafael Leao and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo can not be completely ruled out, Portugal do have the fire powers to test any defence and Morocco’s defenders might be set to face their biggest test so far.
The backline has been the pillar that has hold Morocco in the competition so far and Achraf Hakimi is one of those, who can also be a handful on the other end of the pitch.
Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech and others have already done their country proud having equalled their best run on the competition, recorded back in Mexico, 1986 but at this stage, Moroccans have the belief that this group can go one better.
Playing in an Arab country, the atmosphere is just like playing at home for Morocco and that has so far played to their favour.
They will surely relish that support playing against one of the top teams in the tournament.
So far in Qatar, no nation has scored more goals than Portugal but they are also not invincible as they have been beaten. At the back, they are also vulnerable as the had let in two against an African team in Ghana, in their first group game.
Both sides have only met twice in their entire history and their last meeting came in the previous edition of the tournament in Russia, where a Cristiano Ronaldo’s fourth minute header sealed a 1-0 win for Portugal in a Group B match.
The other time they faced was in the 1986 edition, where Morocco won 3-1 and qualified from the Group stage for the first time ever.
It was the final group game and Morocco qualified as group winner while Portugal finished bottom of the group.
The time, the stake is different and for a place in the last four, they will settle the score again in Doha, Qatar, 16:00 West African time.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
