Morocco Defeat Brazil in Friendly : Morocco continues its good momentum after its successful 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar , becoming the first Africa national team to reach the semi-finals of the global soccer competition.
The North Africans have a rest day during Match-Days Three and Four of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification as their scheduled opponents Zimbabwe were disqualified from the competition.
After the 2-2 draw between South Africa and Liberia on Friday in Johannesburg , Morocco became the first team to qualify to the final phase of the 2023 AFCON with their six points in two games played in Group K.
The Atlas Lions faced Brazil in a friendly this Saturday evening in their first match after the World Cup and won in Tangier with a score of 2-1 at the Ibn Batouta Stadium.
Morocco was the first to take the lead in this match in the 29th minute thanks to Sofiane Boufal.
On a bad Brazilian play, Boufal intercepts the ball, shifts to Bilal El Khannous on the left, who hands it to him in front of goal.
The former Southampton player turns around sharply and scores with his right foot. 1-0 was the score at halftime.
Back from the locker room, Casemiro equalized for Brazil in the 67th minute with a powerful shot but Bono should have done better.
But the Atlas Lions quickly regain the advantage by Abdelhamid Sabiri in the 79th to win it 2-1 for the World Cup semifinalists.
Morocco play against Peru next Tuesday in its second friendly match in Madrid.
Brazil were without big name players Neymar Jr , Marquinhos and Richarlison but Real Madrid trio Vinicius Jr , Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao all started in interim manager Ramon Menezes’ team.
Morocco Starting Line – Up :
GK Yacine Bono
Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Mazraoui,
Sofyan Amrabat, Imran Louza, Azzedine Ounahi
Sofiane Boufal, Hakim Ziyech, En-Nesyri
Brazil Starting Line – Up :
GK Weverton
Emerson Royal , Eder Militao, Ibanez, Alex Telles
Casemiro, Andrey, Lucas Paqueta
Rodrygo Goes, Rony, Vinicius Jr.
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