Morocco makes history, reaches semi-finals after knocking down Portugal

Morocco makes history, reaches semi-finals after knocking down Portugal 1 to null.

The Atlas Lions have qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup. Beyond the sporting side of this feat, which we owe to Walid Regragui and his marvellous team, this victory reinforces the “soft power” of Morocco, a country which is positioning itself already as a continental and global leader.

“We are here, in Qatar, to write history,” Walid Regragui, coach of the Moroccan national team, has said repeatedly after every win of the Atlas Lions, who are now called the Arab Lions and the African lions after their historic victory, being the only Arab and African team to ever reach the semi-finals of a World Cup tournament.

And this is true. On Qatari soil, the Atlas Lions were content, during their first appearance, with a goalless draw against Croatia, yet vice-world champions, before winning two duels in the group stage, respectively against Belgium (2-0) and Canada (2-1) and this Saturday, a great win over Portugal, which entered the tournament as one of the favorites.

A performance never achieved before… and “Mazal Mazal” (more to come, more to come), as the Atlas Lions’ supporters sing in unison during and after each match.