Morocco stunned the world with a 2-1 victory over Brazil in a friendly international match held in Tangiers, Morocco. The African side recorded its first-ever win over the five-time world champions, with a late goal by on-loan Sampdoria midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri sealing the victory for Morocco in the 79th minute.
Boufal and Sabiri Shine for Morocco
Morocco’s midfield star, Sofiane Boufal, opened the scoring for Morocco in the 29th minute. Boufal scored a stunning goal, turning and driving the ball past Brazil’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from a pass by Bilal El Khannous. Brazil captain Casemiro scored the equalizer in the 67th minute, taking advantage of a mistake by the Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. But Morocco didn’t back down, and in the 79th minute, Sabiri scored a magnificent goal to clinch the win for Morocco.
Morocco’s Victory Proves Their Worth
Morocco’s victory showed that the team’s success in becoming the first Arab or African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals last year was no fluke. The victory was also significant because Brazil had won the previous two encounters between the two sides, 2-0 in a 1997 friendly and 3-0 in the group stages of the 1998 World Cup in France.
Brazil Fielded a Weakened Squad
Brazil fielded a weakened squad, with only 10 of the 23-man squad that took Brazil to a disappointing quarter-final exit at the World Cup making the trip to Morocco for the game. Neymar, who missed the World Cup quarter-final due to injury, was also absent from the game, with his number 10 shirt passed to Real Madrid youngster Rodrygo.
Brazil’s Interim Coach and Future Plans
Brazil’s interim coach Ramon Menezes replaced Tite, who stepped down after the World Cup last-eight exit at the hands of Croatia. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) hopes to announce the name of its new coach before the start of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in September. According to Brazilian media, the CBF’s first choice is Carlo Ancelotti, currently in charge of Real Madrid.
Tribute to Pele
Before kickoff at the Ibn Batouta stadium, both teams paid tribute to Pele, who died last December at the age of 82. Pele was a legendary Brazilian footballer who is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Both teams stood for a moment of silence to honor Pele’s memory.
Casemiro Speaks on Brazil’s Performance
After the game, Manchester United’s Casemiro spoke about Brazil’s performance. He said, “I wouldn’t say we lacked understanding, it’s about putting into practice the ideas of a new coach. I think we played a good game and did everything as far as possible to win.”
Morocco’s Confidence Boost
Morocco’s win over Brazil has given the team a confidence boost ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The African side will be looking to build on their success and qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time. With their impressive performance against Brazil, With the Qatar world cup 2022, Morocco proved that it is a force to be reckoned with in international football. After breaking the record of being the first Arab and African national team to reach the semi-finals of the world cup, they gained popularity in the Arab world and throughout the world. As a result of their performance, many bettors put their bets on them, and you can find the best Arabic betting site here where you can place your wagers.
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