Morocco coach Walid Regragui has heaped praise on his players after becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final and ended the hopes of Portugal.
Striker Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal in the first half, leaping highest to beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa to the ball at Al Thumama Stadium as the Arab country secured a 1-0 win.
The north African side’s supporters populated most of the venue and joyously celebrated their breakthrough moment for their continent on the global stage.
"We are becoming a team everyone loves because we are showing what we can achieve," said Walid Regragui.
"If you show the passion, heart and belief, you can succeed and my players have shown that. It is not a miracle - those in Europe might say it is, but we have beaten Portugal, Spain, Belgium and drawn against Croatia without conceding. That is the result of hard work.
"African and Arab teams work hard but we have made our people happy and proud. The whole continent is proud. When you watch Rocky Balboa, you want to support him and we are the Rocky of this World Cup."
Morocco will face holders France in the last four.