Nigeria got the first counterattack, and it was the prelude.
Not the prelude to another Nigeria counterattack though, but the prelude to a flurry of counterattacks from both countries.
In just the 6th minute of the game, Sam set Victor Osimhen up, forcing a spectacular save out of Yassine Bono.
In response, 3 minutes later, Morocco also got its own counter-attacking chance, started by Achraf Hakimi and built on by Brahim Diaz.
On the right-hand side of the pitch where the Real Madrid and PSG players plied their trades, the Moroccan right back and right winger exchanged swift and short passes, cutting through Nigeria's midfield with it, and then…
Bam!
Brahim Diaz hit the final pass, sending it into space and then Achraf Hakimi hit the afterburners, chasing after the ball like he was Iida from My Hero Academia with his engine superpower.
The Moroccan right back ate space like they were not there, chasing after the ball, penetrating deep into Nigeria's half.
