Morocco achieved what many considered impossible at the World Cup in Qatar.
By defeating Portugal this Saturday (10) by 1-0, it became the first Arab and African team to advance to a semifinal.
There are eight games without losing and also seven without conceding goals.
Such size is due, in part, to goalkeeper Yassine Bouno, better known as Bono.
“We’re here to change mindsets and end inferiority,” said Bono, 31. “Morocco is ready to face anyone in the world, beyond the semifinals and anything else.”
Bono has drawn attention at this World Cup for feats such as those he demonstrated in the match against Spain, when he saved two penalties and did not allow La Roja to score a goal in 130 minutes.
That game, which sent the Spanish national team back home, became a historic milestone for Moroccan football.
“We changed this mentality and the generation that comes after us will know that Moroccan players can work miracles,” declared Bono.
The goalkeeper, who curiously spent most of his career in Spain, has a prominent role in Sevilla, the team he defends.
His performance led him to be considered the ninth best goalkeeper in the world at the Golden Ball awards when he received the 2022 Yashin Trophy and won his first Zamora Trophy as the goalkeeper with the fewest goals scored in the 21-22 season.
Bono became his team’s hero in March 2021 against Valladolid, scoring a goal in the 93rd minute to tie the match. This feat by a goalkeeper has not been achieved for a decade in the Spanish Championship.
Bono’s performance in the August 2020 semi-finals also allowed Sevilla to eliminate Manchester United 2-1 to claim their sixth UEFA Europa League title.
Argentine ‘at heart’
Yassine Bouno was born far from Morocco: in Montreal (Canada). He returned to the land of his fathers when he was seven years old.
Since he was a little boy, he showed an interest in football and was part of the Wydad Casablanca club, but his father was opposed to his dedicating himself to the sport. However, Bono insisted on becoming a professional player.
He left Morocco when he was signed by Atlético de Madrid. The experience was not what he expected and he gave up. He spent two seasons with Zamora (2014-2016) and then with Girona (2016-2019). Until he ended up at Sevilla.
His life is linked to Spain. However, it is known that he is a big fan of Argentine football and a fan of River Plate. “The first shirt my father gave me was from Argentina”, said the goalkeeper some time ago.
A close relationship to which his peculiar Argentine accent is attributed. “I’m more Moroccan than anything else. What happens is that when I arrived in Spain I learned Spanish with the Argentines and ended up with the accent”, he once explained.
His great idol is Ariel Ortega, a former Argentine soccer player better known as “El Burrito Ortega”. Bono even admitted in an interview that his dog is called Ariel, in honor of the River player.
Now the eyes of the world are on Morocco. The goalkeeper’s gloves helped the African team achieve their best World Cup performance since the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
Will it be Bono’s turn to face the Argentine national team?
This text was originally published here.
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