What Morocco's backroom staff must do before Portugal game - Former Super Eagles striker

Former Super Eagles striker Julius Aghahowa hopes that the Moroccan players suffering from minor injuries and niggles in the historic win over 2010 world champions Spain will be fit to play in the quarterfinals against Portugal on Saturday. 

The Atlas Lions beat Spain 3-0 on penalties Tuesday evening in their round of 16 game to advance to the last 8 where a clash with Portugal awaits them this weekend. 

Morocco had never reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup but has now joined Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana in achieving the feat. 

Only the north Africans and continental champions Senegal qualified to the knockout stages of the tournament in Qatar with Tunisia, Ghana and Cameroon eliminated in the group stage despite their best efforts. 

"It's football. The Moroccan players are ready to play against any team now. It's a booster (win against Spain)," Nigeria's 2000 Africa Cup of Nations hero told Brila FM, Lagos. 

"The Morocco backroom staff need to have the players with knocks recover as quick as possible before the quarterfinals against Portugal. 

"Maybe some of the players didn't expect to play in the match (on Tuesday against Spain). Kudos to them for this win," Aghahowa who once played in the English Premier League for Wigan Athletic told Brila FM, Lagos. 

Aghahowa who had his best club career while at Ukrainian side FC Shakhtar Donetsk however would not predict the outcome of Morocco's quarterfinals meeting with Portugal who had Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for 74 minutes in the 6-1 mauling of Switzerland. 

Izuchukwu Michael

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