'Aim for the sky': Could dark-horse Morocco win World Cup?

Could a dark horse win the World Cup? 

Morocco wasn't projected to even make it past the group stage, and yet on Saturday, the African nation will play heavily favored Portugal in the quarterfinals in Qatar. 

"Aim for the sky," Morocco manager Walid Regragui said, via ESPN. "We need to change our mentality, and we will be a difficult team to beat. Why not dream about winning that trophy? As African teams, we need to set this objective."

No African nation has won soccer's most prestigious tournament.

In winning Group F, Morocco played 2018 runner-up Croatia to a scoreless draw and beat highly regarded Belgium and CONCACAF champion Canada.

Morocco's biggest challenge came in the Round of 16 against Spain, whom it beat in a penalty shootout. 

It seemed only fitting that Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Madrid, Spain, scored the penalty kick to punch his country's ticket into the quarterfinals. Forward Hakim Ziyech also has played a major role for Morocco, tallying a goal and an assist.

Against Spain, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made three penalty kick saves. His calm demeanor helped his teammates focus and believe in themselves.

With 20 players competing in major European leagues, Morocco has the talent and depth to compete with any country. As the last African team in the competition, it carries not only the hopes of a continent, but the Arab world as well. Islam is the predominant religion in Morocco.

"Before it was just the Moroccans who supported us,” Regragui said, via CNN. “Now it is the Africans and Arabs.”

History is against Morocco. No African nation has even advanced to the World Cup semifinals. In the round of 16, Portugal destroyed Switzerland, 6-1.

But everything seems to be falling into place for Morocco. As its manager says, why not dream big?