Morocco’s goalkeeper #01 Yassine Bounou celebrates successful the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Morocco and Portugal on the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Dec. 10, 2022. (Picture by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Agence France-Presse)
DOHA, Qatar – Morocco coach Walid Regragui lauded the battling spirit of his injury-hit facet after they beat Portugal 1-0 on Saturday to change into the primary African nation ever to succeed in the World Cup semi-finals.
Youssef En-Nesyri’s header late within the first half despatched the Atlas Lions by to a last-four showdown with reigning champions France or England.
“We got here up in opposition to a very nice Portugal group. We’re drawing on all we now have, we nonetheless have guys injured. I informed the blokes earlier than the match we needed to write historical past for Africa. I’m very, very joyful,” Regragui informed France’s TF1.
Regragui, a France-born former Morocco worldwide, had already made historical past of his personal as the primary African coach to take a group into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Morocco have now defeated three of Europe’s strongest groups in Qatar — beating Belgium within the group stage and Spain on penalties within the final 16 — after drawing 0-0 with 2018 runners-up Croatia of their opening match.
Winger Sofiane Boufal hopes there may be extra to return.
“It’s loopy. We’re residing and dream and we don’t need to get up. I’ve goosebumps,” he stated.
“All the pieces we now have, we deserve. We work arduous. It’s not over. There’s nonetheless the semi-final and god keen, the ultimate.”
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