FIFA World Cup: Belgium missing Romelu Lukaku after Morocco shock – Okocha

By Olu Dare

Nigeria football great Jay-Jay Okocha claimed Belgium are missing star striker Romelu Lukaku following the country’s 2-0 defeat to Morocco.

Heading to Sunday’s match against the Atlas Lions, the Europeans were tagged as favourites to claim victory at the Al Thumama Stadium, in Doha.

Nevertheless, substitutes Zakaria Aboukhlal and Abdelhamid Sabiri scored the goals that stunned the Belgians. And the former Super Eagles captain blamed that on the absence of the Inter Milan man, while blaming Michy Batshuayi’s poor shot conversion rate.

“The downside of his [Batshuayi’s] game is he has to be more clinical. He always gets himself in the right positions, but his finishing is always a bit questionable,” Okocha said on SuperSport.

“He is a player that needs a lot of chances to convert and that is where Lukaku is being missed.

“Hopefully, he will grow as the tournament goes on, knowing that he is the main man now because of the injury that Lukaku has.

“Hopefully, he will know that he needs to convert more of his chances.”

Morocco’s were lively along the Ziyech-Hakimi wing, and Belgium regularly struggled to keep the two in check.

The Saiss-Aguerd pairing at the heart of the defence also proved solid, as they were in their opening game.

The Atlas Lions will play Canada in their final group game on December 1 at the Al Thumama Stadium.