The media photographer Muhanned al attabi

The Moroccan national team secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Arab Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Syria in a thrilling match played today at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. This win came after a tactically astute encounter filled with excitement and fierce competition between the two sides.

The match began at a fast pace, with Morocco dominating the first half with 57% possession and creating a number of dangerous opportunities. However, these were thwarted by the outstanding performance of Syrian goalkeeper Elias Hedaya, who made two crucial saves, including one from Zahzouh in the 12th minute. The first half brought a blow to the Atlas Lions when striker Tariq Tissoudali was forced off injured in the 21st minute following a heavy challenge. The 26th minute saw a controversial moment when VAR reviewed a potential penalty for Syria, but the referee ultimately decided to allow play to continue, and the first half ended goalless.

As the second half began, the Syrian team came out strong, threatening the Moroccan goal with a shot from Al-Mawas in the 49th minute, which the defense brilliantly cleared. In response, the Atlas Lions continued their attacking efforts, with Al-Tannane testing the goalkeeper with a shot in the 55th minute that lacked the necessary danger. The game then settled into a midfield battle for several minutes due to the high defensive positioning of both sides.

After the 70th minute, the Moroccan team regained their attacking momentum, but the Syrian goalkeeper continued his excellent performance, thwarting the Lions’ attacks. His most notable save was in the 70th minute, followed by a missed opportunity by Al-Barkaoui, who shot over the bar, and an excellent save from Saâdane’s header in the 75th minute.

The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute after sustained attacking pressure. Walid Azaro, who had come on as a substitute, managed to unlock the Syrian defense, capitalizing on a rebound to score the winning goal and secure Morocco’s qualification.

The final minutes were marked by palpable tension, particularly in the 90th minute, when the referee consulted VAR before showing a red card to Moroccan player Mohamed Mufid, forcing the team to finish the match with ten men.

With this well-deserved victory, the Moroccan national team advances to the semi-finals of the competition, where they await the winner of the Algeria-UAE match, in a highly anticipated encounter promising plenty of excitement.

The media photographer Muhanned al attabi