Can Morocco go all the way in Qatar?

It is a historic moment and, at this stage of the tournament, nobody should be looking at the list of semi-finalists — Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco — and concluding there are only three nations with a realistic chance.

SUMMIT-BOUND? Morocco's team celebrate after the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Morocco and Portugal. Pic: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis

At 7.56pm, Qatari time, on the first day of non-sunshine during the 2022 World Cup, something wonderful happened that had never been seen before in the 92 years of this competition.

They had given everything. They were quick to the ball, strong in the tackle. Their fans created a heck of a din, as they have done all the way through this tournament. And then, finally, Morocco had given Africa its first World Cup semi-finalists in almost a century of trying.