15 Days to the World Cup: Morocco becomes the first African country to advance to the semifinals

Morocco is back in the World Cup just four years after making history. In 2022, the Atlas Lions went on a stellar run, defeating multiple European heavyweights and becoming the first African nation to advance to the tournament’s semifinals.

It was a run to remember for Morocco, who blazed through Group F after drawing with Croatia, crushing Belgium 2-0 and denying Canada its first World Cup win. Morocco finished at the top of the group with seven points, advancing to the knockout stage for just the second time in the nation’s six World Cup appearances.

To kick off the knockout round, Morocco emerged victorious in a dramatic Round of 16 game against Spain. After both teams stayed scoreless through regulation and added extra time, the game went to a penalty shootout.

Thanks to a Spanish miss and two saves from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Morocco won the shootout 3-0 to advance. Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi hit the game-winning PK, softly sending the ball into the center of the net and hitting a waddle afterwards.

But that was just the first hurdle for the Atlas Lions. Next up was a quarterfinal against Portugal, with star forward Cristiano Ronaldo sitting on the bench for the first half.

In the 42nd minute, Morocco found the back of the net behind a beautiful arcing ball from Yahia Attiyat Allah, tapped in by striker Youssef En-Nesyri. The second half was nearly all Portugal, who took shot after shot, but lucky misses and excellent saves from Bounou kept Morocco alive. In the end, as the whistle blew after eight minutes of stoppage time, that one goal was all Morocco needed to make history.

Morocco went on to lose to France 2-0 in the semifinals, conceding a goal in the first five minutes and another in the 79th minute to ice it for Les Bleus. And in the third place match, Morocco faltered again, with Croatia getting the 2-1 win to take the bronze medal.

But it was still a major milestone for the North African nation, who joined South Korea and the United States as one of just three non-European or South American countries to make it to the semis.

And now, Morocco will have another opportunity this summer, facing Brazil, Haiti and Scotland in Group C and trying to reclaim some of that momentum from four years ago.