Etim Esin: Former Nigeria international backs Morocco to reach semi-final

Former Nigerian International Etim Esin believes Atlas Lions have the confidence to reach the World Cup semi-final.

Morocco is the last African team standing at Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup with a quarter-final date with Portugal on Saturday and Esin, popularly known as Maradona feels he won’t be surprised if Morocco beat the Portuguese.

“Morocco had given a good account of themselves. For the first time, we might see an African team in the semi-final of the Word Cup. I think that day might come,” Esin told Brila FM.

“Let’s see what Morocco can do. They defeated Belgium. One can’t count them out because the confidence in their camp is up there,” he concluded.

Atlas Lions and Super Eagles hold the record of topping the World Cup group twice with Morocco qualifying for the quarter-final for the first time this year.

A win over Portugal in the quarter-final will make the North African side the first African team to make it to the last four at the World Cup.

Football in Morocco is witnessing immense growth with its teams dominating club football in Africa. The women’s national team qualified for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time after reaching the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after the U-17  side competed at the World Cup for the first time.

The home-based national team won back-to-back Africa Nation Championship titles in 2018 and 2020.