MOROCCO World Cup star Sofiane Boufal confidently predicted the North African country would make the quarter-finals… but it could boost opponent Portugal’s confidence.
The ex-Southampton ace, 29, has played a key role in Morocco’s impressive World Cup campaign.
He has started all four of Morocco’s games so far and helped them top Group F, finishing above runners-up Croatia, and sending Belgium’s golden generation home, as well as Canada.
Morocco then defeated Spain, a country they are separated from by the Strait of Gibraltar, in emphatic fashion in the round of 16.
They beat the World Cup 2010 winners 3-0 on penalties after the two sides couldn’t be separated in 120 minutes of football.
With Boufal’s help, Morocco became the fourth African country to reach this stage of the competition with Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 coming before them.
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But Morocco’s presence in the last eight of the World Cup has come as NO surprise to Boufal.
The Angers ace predicted Morocco would reach the quarters in a viral video that has resurfaced.
Boufal said in September: “You’re going to think I’m a crazy person.
“But if we get past the group stage, and we will Inshallah, we are going to the quarter-finals, we will be the surprise.
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“We will do what Ghana did in 2010.”
Boufal’s insane prediction could boost quarter-final opponent Portugal’s confidence, though, with the two sides set to do battle on Saturday.
The quarters is where Boufal’s prediction ended.
Should Portugal get past the World Cup’s dark horses, a semi-final date with current holders France or England awaits.
They could then face one of Argentina, Brazil, Holland or Croatia in the final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
