The first African country to score a point in the group stage in 1970, the first African country to reach the round of 16 of the World Cup in 1986, Morocco has once again written its name in the annals of the greatest and most beautiful football competitions in the world, wrote the Ivorian press on Monday.
Saturday, December 10, 2022 will be remembered as the date when the Atlas Lions opened the doors to a world semi-final, that of the 22nd edition which takes place in Qatar, defeating Portugal 1-0, a goal scored by Youssef En-Nesyri in the 42nd minute, writes the daily Evening Info.
And to add: “Once again, the Atlas lions showed resilience and courage to overcome this Portugal team. But it’s far from a surprise. Because since the start of the competition, Regragui’s men had regularly sent signals (…). In other words, this result is the consequence of what has been prepared since.”.
The author of the article points out that it may not be over. “Even if Morocco will necessarily be the country with the fewest references in the semi-finals, but certainly not the least dangerous”.
In an article titled “The Atlas Lions, the first in history”the newspaper The Patriot writes, for his part, that the glass ceiling of the quarter-finals of the World Cup is broken: “Morocco blew it up on Saturday December 10, 2022, dominating Portugal (1-0)”.
After Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010), Morocco broke the curse that hits African teams, becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. , notes the publication.
The media continues that in just eight games with the Atlas Lions and five at the 2022 World Cup, Regragui is the only coach to have qualified an African nation for the Carré d’ace.
“Morocco is writing its history. Rather that of an entire continent. That of Africa »comments the author of the article before continuing that while waiting to add a line to this beautiful Qatari story in the semi-finals, on Wednesday December 14 against France, Morocco and Africa can be proud of their new heroes.
A son tour, Morning Fellowshipand in an article titled “An explosive last square”speaks of an unprecedented last four because very few are the bookmakers who had bet correctly, recalling that Croatia, Argentina, Morocco and France will play the semi-finals which begin tomorrow.
“Morocco writes history”headlines the publication stating that the African continent finally holds its first semi-final of the World Cup, thanks to Morocco.
For the author of the article, the Atlas Lions succeeded where Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) failed “thanks to an exceptional solidarity defensive solidity. Only one goal conceded in five games and a well-oiled tactic propelled Morocco into the square ».
Some Ivorian newspapers also return to the joy of the members of the Moroccan Community established in Abidjan after the qualification of the Moroccan national team for the semi-finals of the World Cup, and the scenes of jubilation which followed the Morocco-Portugal match. . (With MAP)