'Up Morocco'  - Nigerian fans align themselves with Atlas Lions after making World Cup history 

For the first time ever, there will be an African team in the semifinals of the World Cup. 

The Atlas Lions of Morocco, Africa's remaining flagbearer at the 2022 World Cup, secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Portugal to progress to the semifinals. 

Previously, no African side had managed to progress to the last four of the World Cup, with Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana falling at the quarterfinal stage in Italia 90, Korea Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively.

Youssef En Nesyri’'s 42nd minute strike proved the difference for the 1976 African champions who were strong defensively and worked as a team over the course of the game. 

The Sevilla striker headed the ball down into an empty net after a goalkeeping blunder by Portugal goalkeeper Costa. 

Portugal had opportunities to score as they tried and tried to get an equalizer but faced a defensive wall. 

Bruno Fernandes hit the crossbar in first half stoppage time and João Félix thought he had scored in the 84th minute, only for Morocco's outstanding goalkeeper Bounou to make a match-winning save.

In second half stoppage time, Pepe almost scored after a cross from Leao but missed a header. 

Nigerian fans have aligned with the Morocco team, praising the Atlas Lions for their remarkable achievement. 

'Up Morocco' is now trending on the Nigerian twitter sphere with fans highlighting that they are the first African team to reach the last four of a FIFA World Cup. 

Here's what they said on Twitter : 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : fifa.com 

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