By Victor Kanayo
Morocco on Sunday November 27 became a second African country to emerge victorious after they confidently, in great composure, defeated second-best globally rated team Belgium 2-0 in the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Senegal were first to beat the odds after they beat hosts Qatar 3-1 in their second group match.
For the Belgians also known as Red Devils, they escaped early subjection from Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech who scored and VAR ruled it out within the stoppage time in first half party.
On resumption, Morocco again plotted the fall of Belgium from the bench as Abdelhamid Sabiri who came in for Selim Amallan in the 68th minute, got a lobby into Belgium goal and Belgium Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois allowed the ball to bounce before him for a 73rd minute first goal for the Moroccans.
Belgium was terribly troubled with the Senegal-born Onama playing for Belgium serving some air to air missiles into the Moroccan territory and Belgian engine Romelu Lukaku who was having a muscle problem came in but to no avail.
Then, a 22-year-old Zachariah Abdoukhlal took off the Red Devil’s horn when he scored a pass from Ziyech 90+2 to make hope drift far away from the Belgians in the game.
This victory was an encore on low level as the only time the two teams met in March 2008, Morocco stunned Belgium 4-1.
Morocco had played goalless draw with Croatia in the first group game while Belgium piped Canada 1-0.
Morocco now lead group F with 4 points and +2 goals difference; Belgium is second with 3 points and -1 goal difference; Croatia is third with a point while Canada with -1 goal difference is yet to garner a point.
Up next is when Croatia meet Canada later on Sunday.
The final Group F matches will be concluded at 4pm (Nigerian time) simultaneously on Thursday December 1 when Canada will play Morocco and Croatia face Belgium.
Earlier in group E, Costa Rica also stunned Japan 1-0.
Victory for Los Ticos has blown the whole complexion of the group E wide open, as Spain, Japan and now Costa Rica sit on three points apiece, with the Spaniards set to play Germany later on.
