The heroes’ triumphant return home. Like the French team on Friday against the Netherlands (4-0), Morocco played its first match in the country this Saturday evening since its sublime journey at the 2022 World Cup (semi-finals), in Qatar. The fervor around this beautiful Moroccan team has clearly not died down, since the Ibn-Batouta stadium in Tangier was packed and hot as embers for the friendly reception of Brazil. Jostled, the Seleção de Casemiro, captain, suffered the wrath of the Atlas Lions, winners 2-1, to the delight of their public.
Bounou has found himself
Lined up at the front, alongside Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, Rony made the spectators of the Moroccan enclosure go through the first shiver, when, on a service from Paqueta in the interval, he completely missed his last gesture and sent the ball well above the cages of Bounou (13th). Despite an energetic and determined start to the match, Morocco struggled to be really dangerous. It was not until the 23rd minute to see Mazraoui, after a good sequence, see his shot flee a few centimeters from the goal kept by Weverton. In the process, Bounou was not so inspired.
The Sevilla goalkeeper missed two outings away from his cages in quick succession. The first was inconsequential since he caught up well (24th). The other, in front of Vinicius, also came close to being fatal. But the goal of the Real Madrid star striker was refused for an offside position at the start of the action (26th). This at least had the merit of giving a boost to Moroccans. Boufal took advantage of a high recovery from his partners and a service from El Khannouss (last minute holder in place of Louza) in the area to take Weverton on the wrong foot and open the scoring and set a whole people ablaze (1-0, 30th).
The Moroccans did not give up, Brazil folded
Ziyech, in legs, did not know the same success (37th), just like Vinicius on the other side of the field (41st). Upon returning from the locker room, the five-time world champion selection attacked with foot to the floor, determined to return to this match. It took a superb intervention from Bounou on a heavy strike signed Rodrygo to prevent this (48th). And if Ounahi, with a long shot, put Weverton to work (54th), the pressure increased on the Moroccan goals (57th, 59th, 61st). The inevitable happened. But not necessarily in the expected way, Brazil taking advantage of a handball from Bounou on a harmless shot from Casemiro to equalize (1-1, 67th).
Fortunately for the Moroccan goalkeeper, Sabiri, who came into play in place of OM midfielder, did not tremble when sending a missile shaking the nets using the crossbar to offer a success of prestige to his nation (2-1, 79th). The Auriverde selection then never managed to catch up, even being heckled by a rain of “olé” with each successful pass from the locals. The teammates of Achraf Hakimi, who played 53 minutes in this part, thus offer themselves the scalp of a new big nation of world football. Enough to confirm the beautiful period of the Walid Regragui era. Ramon Menezes, who is acting on the Brazil bench while waiting for a new coach, could have dreamed of better for his big first.
Pub. the
MAY laugh
