Much of the media focus in the build-up was on Portugal manager Fernando Santos’ decision to opt for Goncalo Ramos to lead the attack and leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, just as he had against Switzerland in the last round. There was no question which team had the crowd’s attention, though, as the level of support for Morocco made this feel like a home game, and the last remaining African representatives in Qatar didn’t disappoint their fans.

No country from that continent had ever reached the semi-finals of the World Cup before, but Morocco went into this game on the back of an undefeated group stage and confidence-boosting victory over Spain in the last 16.

They repeated the trick in the quarter-finals in a high-tempo match where they showed great defensively solidity against a Portugal side which had scored six in the last round, while posing a constant threat on the counter.

The only goal of the game arrived shortly before half-time, when Youssef En-Nesyri showed all his athleticism to out-leap Ruben Dias and goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the box and head Yahya Attiat-Allah's looping cross into the net.

They had to survive a late onslaught by Portugal, including doing so a man down for the majority of eight added minutes following a red card for Walid Cheddira, but Morocco held on to spark wild celebrations inside the stadium at the final whistle. They will now face the winner of today's second quarter-final between England and France in the semis.

Portugal were the first side to threaten around the five-minute mark, Joao Felix drawing a save from goalkeeper Bono with a diving header, but Morocco dealt comfortably with the resulting corner and launched an instant counter-attack which ended with a corner of their own. Ziyech put in a brilliant delivery from the left, but Youssef En-Nesyri will be disappointed with the way he headed over the bar under minimal pressure.

Just as we have seen throughout this tournament, Morocco were happy the let Portugal have the ball and try to apply pressure high up the pitch, while breaking with pace and precision to create chances, resulting at times in a frantic tempo to the game.

Ziyech’s first sight of goal arrived in the 18th minute, when he cut in from the right touchline in trademark style before trying an effort from 20 yards, but he couldn’t get the connection he was looking for and dragged the low shot wide of the near post.

The Chelsea man had been a little isolated up to that point, with right-back Achraf Hakimi sitting deeper than usual, but took that opening as an invitation to try and stamp his mark on the game. Ziyech found space and delivered a series of balls into the box in the minutes which followed, but the closest they came to providing a breakthrough was another En-Nesyri header which looped high and wide.

However, after keeping Portugal largely quiet during the first half-an-hour, Morocco were breathing a sigh of relief when a Joao Felix snap-shot from outside the box took a heavy deflection to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and seemed destined for the top corner, before spinning narrowly over the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards, the best chance of the game so far fell Morocco’s way, when Selim Amallah met Yahya Attiat-Allah’s low cross in space in the box, but fired over. Things were looking promising for the African side and they were growing in confidence, as shown by Ziyech’s brilliant flicked one-two with Azzedine Ounahi on the left, but they were just missing the finishing touch.

They found it before half-time, though, and it came via the head of En-Nesyri after Portugal failed to heed the warnings. Attiat-Allah sent a looping cross towards the penalty spot from the left and the Sevilla striker leapt high to beat both Ruben Dias and goalkeeper Diogo Costa to the ball and nod into the undefended net.

Portugal tried to respond straight away, with Bruno Fernandes hitting the crossbar with an outrageous half-volley from a tight angle, but Morocco went in at the break with the lead and on course to produce another huge shock in Qatar.

Things nearly got even better early in the second half. A lung-busting run from Hakimi ended with him being fouled by Pepe and Ziyech whipped a wicked cross in from the free-kick, but Diogo Costa did well to save Jawad El Yamiq’s header with his legs.

That prompted changes from Portugal, including the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo, who equalled the all-time FIFA record by making his 196th international appearance. There was a big setback for Morocco, though, as centre-back and captain Romain Saiss was forced off with a hamstring problem, the Atlas Lions having already lost his defensive partner Nayef Aguerd to injury in their last match.

It was clear their replacements in the back line would have plenty of defending to do in the remaining half-an-hour, as Ramos headed wide from a promising cross and then Bernardo Silva fired a powerful shot just over from the edge of the box.

As you would expect, that made the rest of the match fairly one-sided and Ziyech – now wearing the captain’s armband on the right wing of what had become a 5-4-1 formation – dropped ever deeper to help his team-mates withstand the inevitable onslaught as Portugal pushed in search of an equaliser and threw on a series of attacking substitutes.

Morocco had to finish the game without Ziyech, too, who had looked like he was struggling after a Dias challenge left him needing treatment and he was replaced with 10 minutes remaining. There was further concern when substitute Walid Cheddira was booked twice in quick succession, leaving his side to play the final seven minutes of added time with 10 men.

The Atlas Lions managed to hold on regardless, though, thanks in part to a brilliant save by Bono to deny Joao Felix, before Pepe headed wide from point-blank range right at the end. Morocco become the first African team ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals and only the third side from outside Europe or South America to make the last four.