- Atlas Lions beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to qualify for the semis
- They become the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup
Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 to head to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
The Atlas Lions made history by becoming the first African side to reach to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The two sides sparred for the better part of the first half with each side playing cagey and not threatening.
The African side would get the lead late in the first half when Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa misjudged Yahia Attiyat Allah’s cross, failing to claim the high ball as Youssef En-Nesyri towered over him to nod into an empty net.
Fernandos Santos would send in Cristiano Ronaldo in second-half, for a world record-equalling 196th international cap in men’s football, but the former Manchester United forward too would not get past the Lions.
Roared on by a deafening crowd, the Atlas Lions’ fierce resistance saw them make history, becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, setting up another blockbuster clash with either France or England.