Morocco, already history makers, are heroes once more. Superheroes, even.
Not just for the North African nation, but for their continent and what feels like the entire Arab world. They are World Cup semi-finalists following a performance of passion and panache against Portugal in Doha on Saturday night.
They took the lead, through Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering header right before half-time, then defended, as they have done seemingly forever as their lives depended on it.
Fernando Santos summoned Cristiano Ronaldo from the bench, but even the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football could not deprive them. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, known more widely as Bono, delivered another incredible display, his fingertip saves late on from Joao Felix and a brilliant block from Ronaldo encapsulating his team’s unwavering resolve.
And then, even more history. Morocco is among the final four at Qatar 2022, lasting longer than Belgium or the Spain teams they vanquished, or Germany could not escape the group or the Netherlands, and even Brazil headed for the exit on Friday.
On Saturday, at an Al Thumama Stadium that shook and shuddered with Morocco passion, Walid Regragui’s sublime side wrote another chapter in one of the tournament’s greatest tales.
France, the current champions, stands between Morocco and a World Cup final. Say that again: Morocco is one match from football’s showpiece event, two from winning the whole thing. Has this competition ever known the like?
If the celebrations that greeted the country’s first qualification for the knockouts in 36 years were deservedly energetic if those that followed becoming the tournaments only ever Arab quarter-finalist were emphatic, then what about now?