African teams have claimed several giant-killing results at World Cups but nothing like the unprecedented run of Morocco in Qatar will fuel hopes of more representation at future tournaments.
Morocco has eliminated Belgium, Spain and Portugal -- all ranked in the world's top 10 -- to become the first African team to reach the last four and they now eye the scalp of holders France on Wednesday.
Cameroon upset holders Argentina in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup in Italy and went on to the quarter-finals while Senegal did the same to France when they began the defence of their title in 2002.
Algeria’s 1-0 defeat of West Germany in 1982 was also one of the tournament’s all-time shock results.
But for the rest, the continent’s achievements in the showpiece event have been limited, the reason why long-serving Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou put a lid on his members’ demands for more places at the finals.
Reuters
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