The 22nd edition of the World Cup, the first organized in an Arab country, Qatar, smiled on the players of Walid Regragui, who will challenge France on Wednesday for a place in the final, victorious over England. Morocco achieved the feat this Saturday by beating Portugal 1-0, a historic victory for the African continent.
Thanks to a header from Youssef En-Nesyri (42nd) taking advantage of a failed outing by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, the Atlas Lions offered themselves a gala match next Wednesday against the Blues.
Cameroonian pioneers
First Africans to reach the quarters at the Italian “World” in 1990, the Indomitable Lions thought they were reaching the last four. When Roger Milla sends an assist to Eugène Ekeke to lead 2-1 against England (65th), Cameroon has a toe in the semi-finals.
Milla, a fabulous 38-year-old joker (4 goals in 1990), had already obtained the penalty for the Cameroonian equalizer, transformed by Emmanuel Kundé (61st). The English had led the first thanks to David Platt (25th). But Gary Lineker equalizes from the penalty spot (83rd sp), and scores another one in extra time (105th).
The Cameroonians go out on a lap of honor to celebrate an epic that began with a victory against Argentina (1-0) in the opening match, some with a white jersey exchanged with the English. We then promise African football a bright future.
Senegal crucified at the golden goal
A masterstroke, the Lions of Senegal reached the quarter-finals in their first appearance in 2002. They too entered with a bang, beating the defending champion and arch-favorite French in the opening match. (1-0).
Holding the Danes (1-1) then the Uruguayans (3-3) in check, the Senegalese continued on their way. In the round of 16, they beat Sweden to the golden goal, thanks to a double from Henri Camara (37th, 104th) in a festive atmosphere of madness, led in particular by El Hadji Diouf.
Their journey also ends in the quarter-finals against Turkey (1-0 golden goal), at the start of extra time: Ilhan Mansiz (94) sends Turkey to the semi-finals in their second participation.
Ghana is crying again
Those who, until Morocco, had passed closest to the last four remain the “Black Stars” in South Africa in 2010. It took a few centimeters, a penalty in the last moments of the extension that Asamoah Gyan smashed on the crossbar (120th + 1).
Luis Suarez’s voluntary hand to prevent Dominic Adiyiah’s header (120th + 1) made the Uruguayan striker a “devil” in Ghana. But Gyan, who had scored two penalties in the pools, against Serbia (1-0) and Australia (1-1), trembled.
He also scored in 1/8 against the United States (2-1 ap), and he converted his shot on goal, but did not prevent elimination (1-1, 4 pens to 2), at semi-final gates.