Morocco made history in Qatar two years ago, becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. The Atlas Lions beat Spain and Portugal on their run to the last four, and that campaign changed the conversation about what African football can realistically achieve on the biggest stage.
Before Morocco, the best any African side had managed was the quarter-finals. Cameroon got there in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010. Each time, the continent held its breath and each time, the run ended just short of the final four. Morocco broke that ceiling, and now the question is no longer whether an African team can compete at that level. It is how soon one can go all the way.
The arguments in favour are real. African squads are increasingly built around players competing at the highest level in European club football, bringing tactical sophistication and winning experience that previous generations did not always have. The pool of talent across the continent, from Senegal to Nigeria to Egypt to South Africa, is genuinely deep.
The gap to the very top still exists, though. Winning a World Cup means winning seven matches against the best teams on the planet, and no African side has yet made a final. Morocco came closest, and their 2022 run will serve as both inspiration and blueprint for whoever makes the next serious charge.
The question of when keeps shifting closer to the present tense. The next few tournaments will be telling.
Originally published by BBC Africa.