Morocco have entered the history books as the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals while in all likelihood ending tearful Cristiano Ronaldo’s chances of ever winning soccer’s biggest prize.
The north African nation defeated favourites Portugal 1-0, with a winning goal in the 42nd minute by Youssef En-Nesyri.
The victory, described by an SBS commentator as “barely believable”, continues Morocco’s improbable run that has generated an outpouring of pride in the Arab world.
Morocco players soak up the victory after making history. Photo: Getty
The ground-breaking win saw one of soccer’s greatest players, Ronaldo, exit the tunnel in tears.
Ronaldo didn’t start for the second straight game but came on as a substitute in the 51st minute and missed a chance to equalise in stoppage time.
The five-time world player of the year is set to finish his career without capturing the World Cup or ever getting to the final.
He headed right off the field after the final whistle and was crying as he walked down the tunnel.
Morocco will play either France or England, who were meeting later on Saturday, in the semi-finals.
It is a seminal moment in World Cup history, with an African nation finally advancing to the levels typically only reached by European or South American teams.
Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarter-finals but got no further.
Ecstatic Morocco supporters celebrate their country’s win. Photo: Getty
And off the field, this Morocco squad — coached by French-born Walid Regragui and containing 14 players born abroad — is uniting the Arab world, inspiring displays in Arab identity from fans in different countries.
There’s no reason why Morocco cannot go all the way to the title, either, after topping a group that included second-ranked Belgium and fellow semi-finalists Croatia and now taking down two of Europe’s heavyweights in Spain — after a penalty shootout in the round of 16 — and now Portugal.
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