Izuchukwu OkosiAfrica representatives Morocco held Croatia to a goalless draw in their opening Group F match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday afternoon reports Prime Business Africa.
The first half was a cagey affair although Morocco restricted the Croatians to little goalscoring chances, the notable Croatian chance coming from Nikola Vlasic who forced Sevilla’s Morocco goalkeeper Bono to make a good save.
The game opened up more in the second half with more chances created by both sides, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraou particularly close to putting the Atlas Lions ahead while their keeper made good saves to frustrate the Croatians inspired by Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric
Africa representatives Morocco held Croatia to a goalless draw in their opening Group F match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday afternoon reports Prime Business Africa.
The first half was a cagey affair although Morocco restricted the Croatians to little goalscoring chances, the notable Croatian chance coming from Nikola Vlasic who forced Sevilla’s Morocco goalkeeper Bono to make a good save.
The game opened up more in the second half with more chances created by both sides, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraou particularly close to putting the Atlas Lions ahead while their keeper made good saves to frustrate the Croatians inspired by Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric.
Mazraou however later exited the game after he suffered an injury to his ribs.
READ ALSO: Tunisia Hold Denmark In Thrilling Group D Clash
The North African team made life difficult for the runners-up in 2018 courtesy of their excellent pressing albeit it was Croatia that had the better chances overall.
The other teams in Group F, Belgium and Canada meet later today in what looks like it will be a closely contested group.
Three African sizes have so far played their first round of matches in the group stages.
Senegal were defeated 2-0 by The Netherlands on Monday while Tunisia also played out a scoreless draw against Denmark on Monday.
Canada have two Nigerian-born players in their ranks, Ike Ugbo and Ade Adekugbe. Ugbo was reportedly courted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) but was eventually not handed a call-up which led to his decision to change his international allegoamce from Nigeria to Canada.
Canada are making a return to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after their last appearance in 1986 when Mexico hosted.
Three African sizes have so far played their first round of matches in the group stages.
Senegal were defeated 2-0 by The Netherlands on Monday while Tunisia also played out a scoreless draw against Denmark on Monday.
Morocco’s 0-0 draw means that no African team at the ongoing World Cup have scored a goal yet either in open play or though the penalty spots.
Ghana will open their campaign on Thursday with a Clash against Portugal while Cameroon will face Switzerland.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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