By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The unpredictability of the game of football once again came to the fore on Sunday as lowly rated Morocco shocked one of the pre-tournament favourites Belgium 2-0 in the on-going FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
It would have been three in all, but with just part of the arms of Morocco’s Sais sticking out, was all it needed to cancel a beautiful freekick fired by Chelsea FC’s Hakim Ziyechi that would have sent Morocco in front at the nick of the first half after the Video Assisted Referee (VAR), was contacted.
But it did not deter the North African side, 22 in the world ranking from their continuous onslaught, until the pressure paid off with another splendid freekick in the second half, from Abdelhamid Sabiri, which found its way at the back of the Belgian net, without touching anybody.
All attempts to equalise failed until well into three minutes of five minutes extra time, when a combination of a back-pass and one touch shot from Zakaria Aboukhlal, gave the African side, which had the best result ahead of the qualifiers without losing a match chance to complete the rout, becoming the first team in the continent to win a match in the ongoing global football event.
