News about Sofiane Boufal

AFCON is finally here, following months of rumors over which players will be ruled out of club action for up to four weeks. Following the most recent round of play, the continental tournament will take place from January 13 to February 11, with players having to join their national teams. This year's edition of the Ivory Coast will be held in Senegal, with Senegal as the reigning champions after defeating Egypt on penalties in the 2021 tournament (which took place in 2002).

Both teams would have loved to have participated in the final on Sunday, but they would not have won the match that no fan wants to see their countries participate in. Croatia was no match for Argentina after being swept away by a Lionel Messi masterclass after qualifying in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals on penalties. Morocco was one step too far for them after losing 2-0 to France, the reigning champions. With the match coming, Sportsmail takes you through everything you should need to hear about it.

Since the tournament started on November 20, sports betting website Nostrabet has collected the most tweets from the official @FIFAWorldCup Twitter account. It's ranked the tweets from the account with the most likes, retweets, and replies combined. Richarlison's photo kicking the ball mid-air, along with the word 'WOW', has accumulated 284,837 likes, 39,259 retweets, and 1,894 replies. It was his second goal scored by the striker during Brazil's victory over Group G opponents Serbia on November 24. In addition, Argentina's opening goal against Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday, prompted the second most lively World Cup tweet. It only had two words - LIONEL MESSI, the goal's scorer, but it still had 282,290 likes, 3,442 replies, and 29,444 retweets.

On Saturday, Croatia will face Morocco in the third place play-off at the World Cup. Both nations would have loved to be in the final on Sunday, but they will not have lost to Argentina and France respectively, so no one wants to see their countries participate in a match that no one wants to see. Croatia had no match for Argentina after being swept away due to a Lionel Messi masterclass after getting to the Round of 16 and quarterfinals on penalties.

Fans of Morocco's Sofiane Boufal's yellow card have taken to social media, arguing that the decision should have gone the way of the Africans and that they should have been given a penalty. Hakim Ziyech discovered space inside Theo Hernandez midway through the first half. The French defender recovered before collided with Boufal with a heavy touch inside. The event was decided in favour of France, with referee Cesar Ramos shaming the former Southampton player and brandishing Boufal the yellow card.

Morocco's World Cup runs from Doha to Dar es Salaam, and from Casablanca to London, has ignited euphoric celebrations. The Atlas Lions' movement has galvanized not only a nation and a continent, but also millions of people united by shared values. Their days have been defining for Africa, for the Arab world, for the Muslim people, and elsewhere.

HERBERT IN DOHA: They flooded through Casablanca's streets in every imaginable way: They crammed into open car boots, children in pushchairs, or on shoulders - thousands of them, commemorating Morocco's historic journey to the World Cup semi-finals. It was no different in Souq Waqif, a meeting point for all the nations at the start of the tournament, but major contingents from Morocco and Argentina led it now. The message on the T-shirts that are flying off the stalls says, 'Our blood is Arab.' The madness of the world's 22nd-ranked team travelling deeper into the competition than any African or Arab country has done before is explained by a formula.

After Morocco's dramatic World Cup victory over Portugal, Sofiane Boufal welcomed his mother onto the field to celebrate with her. The Angers winger made history by becoming Morocco's first African nation to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament. After the final whistle for Morocco, there was jubilant on-pitch celebrations, especially in comparison to a distraught Portugal - with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the pitch in tears.

For the first time at the World Cup, the Africans defeated Luis Enrique's side in the last 16 to progress to the quarter-finals. Boufal (right) twisted one way, the other, and then back to his opposite man Llorente (left) who was left dead in the first half. Fans took to social media to praise the 'filthy' improvisation and mocked Atletico Madrid midfielder Llorente's attempts to tackle him, who was playing out-of-place at right back. One said, 'Nah Boufal just sent Llorente back to Atletico omds.' A second added: 'BOUFAL MY BROTHER THAT WAS FILTHY!!SENT LLORENTE TO THE SHOPS! A Moroccan flag is the product of #MAR,' followed by a Moroccan flag.

In the pair's last group match of December, Canada's first World Cup tournament in 36 years will be held against high-flying Morocco. Although the Maple Leafs are unlikely to advance any further, they will want to make more history and win their first-ever World Cup match. In comparison, Morocco currently sits second in Group F with four points, only behind Croatia due to a poorer goal difference.

In Al Bayt, a Hakim Ziyech-led Morocco faces 2018 finalists Croatia in a finely co-poised Group F. Belgium is the most likely to make it to the top of the league, but both of these teams, as well as Canada, have a high likelihood of making it to the knockout stages. With an early kick-off on Wednesday, November 23 for Croatia and Morocco, those aspirations will begin outside of Doha. Sportmail takes you through everything you need to hear about below as the match is quickly approaching.

With seven wins from eight, 25 goals scored, and an undefeated record to brawl, only seven countries outside of the world rankings' top 20 steamrolled the World Cup qualification stage as well as Morocco. Morocco defeated Tunisia in their second World Cup qualifier since 1998 after enduring a miserable tournament in Russia four years ago. Following a single point and just two goals scored in the 2018 competition, the African nation promised to become more aggressive in attack as they sought to qualify for the next World Cup.

Hakim Ziyech returned to Morocco after more than a year's absence to lead them to a 2-0 victory over Chile in their World Cup warm-up at Cornella-El Prat Stadium on Friday. After defender Paulo Diaz blocked the opening of the scoring and debutant Abdelhamid Sabiri scored a second 12 minutes later in a winning start for coach Walid Regragui weeks after he was appointed Morocco coach. It was the first of two warm-up games in Spain for World Cup-bound Morocco, who would face Paraguay in Seville on Tuesday.