World Cup 2022: carried by its public, Morocco surprises Belgium


VICTOIRE. Faced with Belgians announced as among the favorites of the tournament, the Moroccan team did not let themselves be fooled and took the lead in group F after their 2-0 victory.





By Africa Point

Joy and hope are expressed on the Moroccan side after the victory against the Belgians at the Al-Thumama stadium in Doha, this Sunday (November 27th).
© MUSTAFA YALCIN / Anadolu Agency via AFP

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LMorocco can seriously believe in qualifying for the round of 16 after punishing the Belgian Red Devils 2-0 at the Al-Thumama stadium in Doha on Sunday (November 27th). Walid Regragui’s men are provisionally leading Group F with 4 points, four days before facing Canada. The Moroccans, after the draw against the Croats (0-0), were expected at the turn. They can now logically dream of joining the top 16 of the tournament. And why not repeat the feat of 1986, when they became the first African team to qualify for the round of 16 in a World Cup?

Belgium dominate in the first half

Everything had however started well for… the Red Devils. “The favorite is Belgium. […] You have to call a spade a spade,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui on the eve of facing Eden Hazard and his teammates. The latter, who had already shown great excitement on Monday despite a flattering success against Canada (1-0), are now on the ropes, with only three units on the clock. A success could prove mandatory against the Croats, during a breathless duel between two teams in the last four of the 2018 edition.

Imperial on Wednesday against the Canucks, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was surprised by a free kick cleverly kicked at the near post by Abdelhamid Sabiri a quarter of an hour from time (73e).

And the best goalkeeper in the world was again beaten in stoppage time, surprised by a recovery from Zakaria Aboukhlal (90e + 2).

The second nation in the Fifa rankings was also the victim of an offensive breakdown: Romelu Lukaku, spared after a left thigh injury in recent weeks, only came into play ten minutes from time and did not weigh on the game.

After their arduous but rewarding three-point inaugural performance, Belgium showed up at the Al-Thumana Stadium with a revamped squad, with Carrasco, Dendoncker and Tielemans being sent back to the bench in favor of Castagne, Onana and Thorgan Hazard.

These changes made by Roberto Martinez initially seemed promising, his men dominating the start of the meeting by depriving their opponents of the ball.

Michy Batshuayi also solicited Munir El Kajoui from the 5e minute, the Moroccan goalkeeper established at the last minute due to the withdrawal of the usual goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, yet present on the ground during the national anthems.

Eden Hazard, rather inspired, and his teammates nevertheless created few clear situations in the first period (a header from Onana, 17eand a strike from Meunier two minutes later).

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A convincing and unleashed Morocco team in the second period

And it was even the Moroccans who for a moment thought they had opened the scoring when a free kick kicked by Hakim Ziyech deceived Courtois in the 45the.

Requested by the VAR, the Mexican referee César Ramos however logically canceled the goal for an offside by Saïss.

This incursion, even sterile, gave confidence to the Maghreb team, which played higher after returning from the locker room. Which had the gift of making the game a little more exciting. Sofiane Boufal, with a wrapped shot that grazed the cage (57e), thus responding to a sequence of Eden Hazard (52e). A sign that Romain Saïss and his teammates were gradually taking over the game as the Belgians fell back into the traps of their match on Monday. With an unfortunate result for some, appetizing for others.

* Morocco’s pool matches: December 1 against Canada at 4 p.m. French time.

Consult our file: FIFA World Cup 2022

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