Morocco’s historic run at the World Cup in Qatar came to an end on Wednesday as they lost to France 2-0. The Atlas Lions defied all odds at the soccer tournament, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to make it to the semifinals in a first for an African country.
France had to dig deep, relying on the count dug dig and punished the lions for missed chances to secure their place in the final ending the African and Arab dream.
France’s Theo Hernandez scored just four minutes into the game, the fastest goal in a World Cup semifinal since 1958. Randol Kolo Muani then scored again at around 80 minutes in to put France up 2-0.
Morocco had several scoring opportunities early in the second half but ultimately failed to score on France.
Over 100 local Moroccans and community members filed into the auditorium at Beachmont Veterans Memorial School in Revere to watch the game and despite the North African team’s crushing loss, fans commended the country’s unprecedented achievements that made members of the international Arab, Muslim, and African communities proud.
It will be France vs Argentina in the final on Sunday while Morocco will take on Croatia for the third place. They will have to hold their head high for what has been a truly incredible and historic world cup performance of the north Africans.
Something that was already felt in the stadium at the end of the match against France where spectators and fans gave them a thundering applause.
Mustapha Hadji – Ahotor Sports Desk
