World Cup 2022: Crazy Scenes as Morocco Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou Vanishes Seconds Before Belgium Clash

World Cup 2022: Crazy Scenes as Morocco Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou Vanishes Seconds Before Belgium Clash

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:18 PM
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FIFA World Cup
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  • Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was taken ill seconds before he faced Belgium in their second game at the World Cup
  • Match commentators failed to notice that Bounou had to be replaced by his number two, Munir Mohamedi before the game began
  • TV footage shows Bounou lining up for the national anthem and even greeting Belgium but was absent as the game started

A crazy occurrence took place seconds before Belgium vs Morocco match at the Al Thumama Stadium in Qatar.

Morocco's first-choice goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was named in Walid Regragui''s starting XI and even lined up for the national anthems.

Yassine Bounou, Morocco, Belgium, World Cup
Yassine Bounou speaks to match officials before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match between Belgium and Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium on November 27, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Michael Regan
Source: Getty Images

But as soon as the game began, it was discovered that Bounou had not taken up his place in the Moroccan goal but Al Wehda's goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.

Eye issue

Daily Mail now reports that Bounou notified his head coach that he had an eye issue and was feeling dizzy just before kick-off. No statement has been released yet.

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The setback did not hold Morocco back as they went on to beat Belgium 2-0 in a shock result. Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal came off the bench to score as Morocco recorded their third victory at the World Cup finals.

Thibaut Courtois piece of skill

In the same game, Sports Brief reported that Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois displayed cool composure as his sublime skill left Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri gasping for air.

Belgium and Morocco squared up at the Al Thumma Stadium in the second round of fixtures of Group F.

The ball was played back to Courtois and instead of the Real Madrid goalkeeper booting the ball upfield, he turned En-Nesyri inside out as the Sevilla striker glided past him.

Morocco vs Belgium

Sports Brief has also reported that Morocco jeopardised Belgium's World Cup hopes as Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal's late goals secured a surprise 2-0 triumph in Doha on Sunday.

Belgium, third in Russia four years ago, could have qualified for the last 16 with victory but instead produced another insipid display after their fortunate opening win over Canada.

Substitute Sabiri was the hero thanks to a 73rd-minute free-kick which Thibaut Courtois allowed to bounce in at his near post, before Aboukhlal grabbed a second in stoppage time. The tens of thousands of Morocco supporters responded by cheering their team home at a raucous Al Thumama Stadium.

Authors
Martin Moses photo
Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)