Morocco's fairy tale continues: first Africans in the semifinals of the World Cup

Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final on Saturday with a 1-0 triumph in Qatar over Portugal, which once again started without its star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri headed the historic goal in the 42nd minute when he beat Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa from Yahya Attiat-Allah’s cross.

Ronaldo came in the 51st for his 196th cap which equaled the world record of Saudi Arabia’s Badr al-Mutawa.

But he failed to force a breakthrough for Portugal, who Bruno Fernandes was denied off the crossbar before the break, and Morocco also held on after his substitute Walid Cheddira was sent off for a second yellow card at the start of eight injury time.

The largely Moroccan crowd at Al Thumami Stadium and the team erupted with joy after Atlas Lions ended Africa’s fourth attempt with a quarter-final, following Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 had all gone out in the quarter-finals.

Morocco’s fairytale run continues on Wednesday when they face title holders France or Euro 2020 runners-up England, who complete the quarter-finals on Saturday.

They have conceded just one goal in five matches in Qatar, a Nayef Aguerd own goal in the group match against Canada, while keeping 2018 runners-up Croatia, long-time world rankings leaders Belgium, 2010 champions Spain and now Portugal won Euro 2016 without scoring.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos preferred young Gonçalo Ramos to 37-year-old Ronaldo, just like in the 6-1 defeat by Switzerland in the round of 16, where Ramos scored a hat-trick. The only change was Ruben Neves for William Carvalho in midfield.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui had to replace injured key defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Aguerd, with Attiyat-Allah on the field.

Portugal had an early chance through João Felix’s diving header, which was denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who had famously saved two penalties for the Spanish side in their last 16 shootout victories.

Atletico Madrid’s Felix remained the main threat and his effort later from distance took a wicked deflection from Jawad El Yamiq and went inches clear.

At the other end, Youssef En-Nesyri headed high from a promising position, Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech shot well wide from distance, and Selim Amallah also went wide when he should have done better.

That showed the Moroccans wouldn’t rely on their solid defense alone, and they were rewarded in the 42nd minute when En-Nesyri leapt into the air to beat Costa’s Attiat-Allah cross and header to make it 1-0.

However, Portugal were close to equalizing before the break when Bruno Fernandes caught Bounou from a tight angle but his shot hit the crossbar.

Costa kept up a dangerous cross from a free-kick with lots of traffic in front of him, and Ronaldo then came on in the 51st minute to join Ramos up front in the quest for an equaliser.

Ramos headed wide in the 57th minute, completely unmarked before being eliminated 10 minutes later, while Fernandes shot just over the bar.

Morocco barely managed to leave the half, but in the 82nd minute Bounou deflected Felix’s shot over the bar and also warned against Ronaldo.

Cheddira was then sent off for a second bookable bookable offence, but Zakaria Aboukhlal should have taken victory on the only counter-attack which nearly backfired when Portugal had one last chance from Pepe but he went wide.