Morocco went to the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the second-ranked team in Africa behind reigning African champions Senegal.
Although many Africans tipped the Teranga Lions to lead the African contingents in Qatar, it is Walid Regragui’s team that has rekindled the continent’s hopes for glory in the quadrennial tournament.
Having scored five goals and conceded just one, Morocco became the first African nation to progress to the semi-final stage at any edition of the World Cup, doing so in grand style by defeating European giants Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, with clean sheets in each of the matches on their path to achieving the record-breaking feat.
Despite the fact that this has been a team effort, we take a look at the top five players who have made the Moroccan team impossible to conquer thus far.
Yassine Bounou
The goalkeeper has been in outstanding form for the Atlas Lions in Qatar, with three clean sheets in his four appearances and conceding just one goal.
The Sevilla goalkeeper was instrumental in Morocco’s win over Spain in the Round of 16, saving two of the three penalties he faced in the shoot-out.
Bounou made three saves in the historic quarter-final victory over Portugal, including a crucial one from a goal-bound Joao Felix’s strike, to lead his team to the semifinal.
Among the goalkeepers of the teams remaining in the tournament, the 31-year-old has the second-highest touches while playing the joint-fewest games (4).
Achraf Hakimi
The Paris Saint-Germain star has lived up to expectations thus far.
A crucial member of a defence that has stifled European giants like Spain and Portugal and let in just one goal so far, the defender has won the most tackles (13) and duels (35) of any right-back still in the competition.
He provided an assist in the Atlas Lions’ win against Canada in their final group game and also scored the winning penalty against Spain in their penalty shoot-out.
The 24-year-old has completed more dribbles (two) and won more aerial duels (five) than any other right back still in the competition.
He has also completed the second-most touches (329), just behind Croatia’s Josip Juranovic (400), in almost an hour less of playing time.
Sofyan Amrabat
The combative midfielder has been impressive with a series of unending dominant displays in the middle of the park.
Amrabat has provided the much-needed cover for the defence, while also acting as the conductor in the midfield, dictating the passage of play for Regragui’s side.
The Fiorentina midfielder has won more tackles (8) than any defensive midfielder playing for the last four teams remaining in the tournament.
He has won 18 duels, completed 157 passes from 250 touches in five matches along with six interceptions.
Hakim Ziyech
The dymanic midfielder has been a ray of light in Morocco’s attacking set-up that has not kept much of the ball.
The midfielder came into the tournament struggling for game time at Chelsea, but he has turned his fortunes around with a string of outstanding performances.
So far, Ziyech has one goal and an assist with 259 touches, 107 successful passes, seven successful dribbles, and five key passes in five matches.
The 29-year-old has surprised many fans by forming a strong defensive partnership on the right side alongside Hakimi, with six tackles and six interceptions, and winning 23 duels so far.
Youssef En-Nesyri
En-Nesyri, the scorer of the record-breaking goal that sent Morocco into the semi-finals, is enjoying a fine outing in Qatar so far.
The striker was struggling for goals coming into the World Cup, having found the back of the net just twice in 14 La Liga appearances for his club this season, and he has scored two goals in five games in Qatar so far.
En-Nesyri has 111 touches, 37 successful passes, completed five successful dribbles and won 27 duels in the five games he has played.
The Atlas Lions will be relying on these individuals to continue their historic run at the quadrennial tournament when they meet the defending champions France in the semi-final onWednesday at the Al Bayt stadium.
In hindsight, Morocco’s outstanding outing benefits the African continent, increasing the number of African teams to a possible ten for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
