The second semifinal at the 2022 World Cup will see new ground broken for African football, as Morocco become the first team to participate in this stage of the men’s senior global tournament. Their opponents will be France at the Al Bayt Stadium on the evening of Wednesday 14 December.

Morocco earned their semifinal spot with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Portugal in the quarterfinal – with Youssef En Nesyri scoring the only goal of the match a few minutes before halftime.

“We came up against a really great Portugal team. We’re drawing on all we have, we still have guys injured. I told the guys before the match we had to write history for Africa. I’m very, very happy,” said Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui.

“Africa is back on the map of football. We had the mentality. We knew we could make history for Africa. We had the right attitude for our people, for us, for Africa.”

France, meanwhile, claimed a 2-1 win over old rivals England in their quarterfinal, as goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud – plus a key missed penalty from Harry Kane – kept Les Bleus on course to retain their title.

“Our coach believes in us being a group, being a team,” said attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann. “It’s up to us to have that mentality off and on the pitch. We’re on the right path. We’re a group that lives well together. I see it in training, too. Everyone gives 100 per cent and we have the perfect set-up to take us as far as possible.”

• Key players

Kylian Mbappe – In many pundits’ eyes, Mbappe is now clearly the world’s best football player, with his unmatched speed and athleticism allied to a near-perfect technique, and a composure that has grown with experience. Already a World Cup winner as a teenager, he could cement a status as an all-time great at the age of just 23.

Hakim Ziyech – The Chelsea winger had to be replaced due to a minor injury in the quarterfinal against Portugal, but Morocco will hope he is fit for this semifinal clash. His vision, passing and goal threat when cutting inside from the flank to shoot are key to the Atlas Lions’ hopes of making the final on Sunday.

• Head-to-head stats

In head-to-head stats, France and Morocco have met in seven previous matches. Les Bleus boast an unbeaten record, with five wins and two draws. The teams’ most recent clash was an international friendly in Paris in November 2007 which ended in a 2-2 draw.

• Battles to watch

Didier Deschamps v Walid Regragui – Deschamps has major tournament credentials under his belt, but even he must be stunned by the incredible job Regragui has done in less than 100 days in charge of the Morocco team.

Raphael Varane v Youssef En-Nesyri – The France centre-back has been a foundational part of this team, but he faces a tough task against the relentless and determined En-Nesyri, the hero of Morocco’s quarterfinal win over Portugal.

Adrien Rabiot v Sofyan Amrabat – Rabiot has played a key role in his side’s progression into the final four, and the same can be said of Amrabat, whose indefatigable competitiveness encapsulates all that Morocco have represented at Qatar 2022.

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• FIFA World Cup broadcast details

Wednesday 14 December

• 21:00: France v Morocco – LIVE on SuperSport Grandstand, SuperSport PSL, SuperSport Maximo 1, SuperSport Maximo 2, SuperSport GOtv La Liga and SuperSport GOtv Select 1

Ghana and Cameroon who are among the five African representatives will be in action with the aim of securing a spot in the last 16.

In Group H, South Korea will come up against Portugal at the Education City Stadium with kick-off scheduled at 15:00GMT.

At the Al Janoub Stadium, Ghana will come up against Uruguay with kick-off also scheduled at 15:00GMT.

In Group G, Cameroon will face five-time world champions, Brazil at the Lusail Stadium with kick-off at 19:00GMT.

Serbia will take on Switzerland at the Stadium 974 with kick-off also at 19:00GMT.

Full fixtures: 

South Korea v Portugal

Ghana v Uruguay 

Cameroon v Brazil 

Serbia v Switzerland

Ghana will come up against Uruguay in their final group game on Friday at the Al Janoub Stadium with kick-off scheduled at 15:00GMT.

After securing a 3-2 win over South Korea on Monday, the Black Stars must avoid defeat to make it to the last 16.

However, Uruguay would need a win and hope Portugal beat Korea in the last round of matches. 

It would be recalled that in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Uruguay denied Ghana a place in the semi-finals courtesy of a Luis Suarez handball. 

Many Ghanaian football fans are calling for revenge against the Sky Blue.

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In an interview with GNA Sports, Ayew said the Black Stars were focused on defeating the two-time world champions, and not concerned about revenge.

“I’m the only one who was in the squad when that happened, so the others don’t know how we felt but everyone felt bad. For me, I just want to get into the next stage so if it was revenge or not, we would go with the same determination and the same desire to win because we want to get to the next stage.

“So, it’s not a matter of revenge, it is just a matter of us getting into the next stage.”

“Where I am now, I’m not looking back but I’m just looking at what’s coming on Friday, I don’t want to talk about the past, I just want to focus on what’s coming and how to win.”

The Friday clash would be the second meeting between the two countries at the World Cup.

The Black Stars will open their campaign today against Portugal at the 974 Stadium later today.

Ahead of what will be a big encounter, CAF President Dr Motsepe spent time with the Black Stars on Wednesday and offered some words of motivation.

“It’s a great honor for me to be here to be with every one of you. You make us so proud and the people of Ghana and Africa are very proud of every one of you,” he said.

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“We know that this is an opportunity for you as a team to continue the excellent performances that you have shown us match in and match out. We are absolutely confident, and we believe in you,” Dr Motsepe said during his visit as quoted on the website of the Ghana FA.

The CAF President continued, “you have shown us what you are capable of doing in the past. This belief is based on your performances on the field and the very, very difficult victories that you have achieved in the past. Many of you play at the highest level in the World and this is the highest level in the world so we came here to say to you that the people of Ghana and the whole of Africa, the 54 nations in Africa, and the 1.4 billion people in Africa support you and we believe that you are going to make history.”

The Group H contest between Ghana and Portugal is scheduled to kick off at 16:00GMT today.

Having secured a draw in the first leg of the playoff games, the Black Stars will be welcomed to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium later today for the final fixture.

In an official pre-match press conference on Monday, Addo told the press that his charges would improve their performance to ensure they win against their rivals at their own backyard.

“We have a good team, and we played well in Ghana. We will improve on this because we are here to push more, and we are determined,” the Borussia Dortmund talent coach said.

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“Moreover, I don’t see myself being under pressure, because it is a privilege to play against the Super Eagles in Nigeria.

“We are not better than the Super Eagles and the Super Eagles are not better than us.

“But we are here to improve on our game until we are satisfied with our performance and score some goals,” he added.

The Nigeria-Ghana ticket decider is scheduled for 17:00GMT kickoff. The Black Stars having missed out in the last edition in Russia are on a quest to play at the global showpiece for the fourth time.

The 2022 Fifa World Cup takes place from November 21 to December 18.