Morocco Beat Portugal, Become First African Team To Reach World Cup Semi-Final

Morocco have become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup.

Morocco scored a first-half winner to upstage Portugal 1-0 in their quarter-final encounter at Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.

The North Africans scored the only goal of the encounter through Youssef En-Nesyri’s header, with the striker netting his second goal of Qatar 2022 and third World Cup goal overall.

Portugal had the better chances in the early exchanges with Joao Felix seeing a flying header saved before having a shot deflected agonizingly wide of the top corner.

Morocco settled in thereafter and kept grafting towards attack before taking the lead minutes before half-time through En-Neyseri.

Morocco advanced into the semi-final stage for the first time in their World Cup history. They also become the first African nation to reach the last-four stage of the World Cup.

The Atlas Lions will square off with the winner of the tie between England and France on Wednesday, December 14.