Morocco have built a reputation for overcoming obstacles on football's biggest stages.
But one unusual pattern continues to follow the Atlas Lions whenever Carlos Queiroz enters the equation.
Now, with Morocco facing Ghana, that history has returned to the spotlight.
The so-called “Queiroz curse” is not a literal sporting curse, but a reference to the Portuguese coach's repeated success against Morocco during his long international career.
For the Atlas Lions, the challenge is to make sure history stays exactly where it belongs — in the past.
Carlos Queiroz has spent decades moving between some of international football's biggest jobs.
His career has included Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman and Ghana, giving him an unusually broad knowledge of African and international football.
That experience has also created a curious connection with Morocco.
Whenever Queiroz has appeared on the opposing side, Morocco have found themselves facing a coach with extensive knowledge of the tactical and cultural landscape surrounding African football.
It is that recurring history that has given rise to the “Queiroz curse” label.
But Morocco's current team is not the same side that faced previous generations of Queiroz-led teams.
The Atlas Lions have spent the past few years rewriting their own history.
Their run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals transformed expectations around the national team and established Morocco as one of Africa's leading football powers.
That progress has continued.
At the 2026 World Cup, Morocco reached the quarter-finals for the second consecutive tournament, becoming the first African nation to achieve that feat.
FIFA also highlighted the team's development from outsiders at the 2018 World Cup to semi-finalists four years later and then genuine contenders in 2026.
That experience matters.
Morocco are no longer simply trying to prove they belong among the world's best.
They now enter major matches expecting to compete.
There is another layer to this meeting.
Queiroz is now part of Ghana's football story after taking charge of the Black Stars in April 2026.
His initial spell lasted only three months and ended after Ghana's World Cup campaign, but the Ghana Football Association subsequently brought him back for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
That means the Black Stars have continuity with a coach who has already experienced a World Cup with this group.
Ghana reached the knockout stage in 2026 before losing 1–0 to Colombia.
Now Queiroz's attention has shifted towards rebuilding the Black Stars and securing qualification for the next AFCON.
The danger for Morocco is allowing the storyline to become bigger than the match.
Queiroz's record and reputation make the fixture intriguing, but Ghana remain the actual opponent.
The Black Stars have talented players, World Cup experience and a coach who understands how to prepare teams for difficult international matches.
Morocco therefore need to concentrate on the details that have made them so difficult to beat in recent years: defensive organisation, patience and the ability to respond when matches become uncomfortable.
Their 2026 World Cup campaign provided a clear example.
Against Haiti, Morocco twice fell behind before recovering to win 4–2, showing the resilience that has become a defining characteristic of the team.
Football history can create psychological narratives very quickly.
A few difficult results become a pattern.
The pattern becomes a “curse”.
And eventually the label becomes part of the conversation before the next match has even begun.
Morocco have an opportunity to break that cycle.
Their recent development suggests they have already become a different team from the one that experienced those earlier setbacks.
Ghana, meanwhile, have their own ambitions under Queiroz.
That makes this more than a meeting between two African heavyweights.
It is a chance for Morocco to replace an old narrative with a new one.
If the Atlas Lions win, the “Queiroz curse” will have one less chapter to survive.
⚽ Goal: Morocco's recent rise has changed expectations around the Atlas Lions.
🔥 Fire: Carlos Queiroz brings a fascinating history into the matchup.
😲 Shock: Ghana have retained Queiroz after his initial World Cup spell ended.
👍 Like: Morocco have reached the World Cup quarter-finals in consecutive tournaments.
💬 Comment: Do you believe the “Queiroz curse” is real, or is it simply football history being exaggerated?
