Morocco to Play Peru in Madrid : Morocco continues its good run of form 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 are not playing any games 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.
To keep their international players busy , the Morocco FA then arranged for two top international friendly matches during this FIFA international break ; first against Brazil and secondly versus Peru.
The Atlas Lions won 2-1 against Brazil of Vinicius Jr , Casemiro and co in Tangier at the Ibn Batouta Stadium and the coming up next is another amical match against another South American opposition , Peru on 28th March in Madrid.
Morocco was the first to take the lead in this match in the 29th minute thanks to Sofiane Boufal who netted against goalkeeper Weverton.
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.
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 against Brazil :
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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