We’re living a dream - Morocco coach

Morocco coach Walid Regragui was ecstatic after Portugal in the quarterfinals and said that they have worked hard to reach here.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui lauded the battling spirit of his injury-hit side after they beat Portugal 1-0 on Saturday to become the first African country ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Youssef En-Nesyri’s header late in the first half sent the Atlas Lions through to a last-four showdown with reigning champions France or England.

“We came up against a really great Portugal team. We’re drawing on all we have, we still have guys injured. I told the guys before the match we had to write history for Africa. I’m very, very happy,” Regragui told France’s TF1.

Regragui, a France-born former Morocco international, had already made the history of his own as the first African coach to take a team into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Morocco have now defeated three of Europe’s strongest teams in Qatar — beating Belgium in the group stage and Spain on penalties in the last 16 — after drawing 0-0 with 2018 runners-up Croatia in their opening match.

“It’s crazy. We’re living a dream and we don’t want to wake up. I have goosebumps,” he said.