Last Lion Standing
Boston, four years ago. Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute. Randal Kolo Muani to finish it. Morocco's fairytale run to the first African World Cup semi-final ended 2-0, and the continent went home proud but empty-handed.
Tonight, same two teams, same stage they've earned back, and Morocco walk in as something they weren't in Qatar: favorites to actually hurt France, not just embarrass them.
Morocco is the first African team to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals, and the first to win two knockout-stage matches outright at a single tournament. They've done it without a recognized striker, coach Mohamed Ouahbi scrapped the traditional No. 9 for a false-nine system built around Ismael Saibari, and it's been working. The road here included a 1-1 draw with Brazil, a penalty shootout win over the Netherlands, and a second-half stunner from Azzedine Ounahi to finally break Canada.
The number that matters most: Morocco haven't lost a match in 34 games, their last defeat coming in August 2025 against Kenya. This isn't a Cinderella run. It's a team that's built something durable.
France, obviously, are the favourites, unbeaten and yet to need extra time all tournament, with Mbappé one goal off Messi's Golden Boot pace. But Morocco's double pivot of Neil El Aynaoui and Bilal El Khannouss has been built specifically to play through pressure, the exact tool teams need against Deschamps' high press. Yahoo Sports
Ouahbi isn't selling revenge. "We want to go as far as possible and make our people proud," he said. Kickoff is 4pm ET at Foxborough, the last African flag flying at this World Cup, and Morocco don't look like they're ready to fold it up yet.
