A World Cup like no other for Morocco and Africa

Rabat prepares to celebrate the return of Morocco’s national squad that enchanted millions of Moroccans and billions around the world after a memorable run in Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Led by national coach and former Morocco international Walid Regragui, the Atlas Lions ended in fourth place stunning on their way highly ranked European teams such as Belgium, Spain and Portugal. It was the first African team to make it to the semi-finals.

The players, the coach and the thousands of enthusiastic fans in Doha and elsewhere had raised the banner aiming to reach the final had it not been for lack of luck and also “grotesque” refereeing that denied them penalties in the semi-final game against France and third place match against Croatia.

Lessons

The unparalleled run of the Atlas Lions will go down in history as an achievement for Africa that can only be outperformed if an African team reaches the final.

“If we want to be the kings of world football, we have to win the African Cup of Nations first,” said Regragui at a news conference.

Morocco’s performance had sent a message of hope to teams from developing nations and to ordinary people in general that with preparation and determination everything is possible.

Images of players celebrating with their parents and family members after each victory showed the world some long forgotten values of family love.

The composition of the national team in itself combining players from the homeland and the diaspora reflected an image of a unity backed by proud fans who have shaken stadiums with chants in support of their team.

Back home, celebrations rocked every city and town with the King joining fans to celebrate the unprecedented performance of the Atlas Lions.

The World Cup was also a chance for Morocco to show its real image as a stable country with football inroads representing a tiny fraction of the progress achieved in the country.

Morocco’s breakthrough in the World Cup is but the tip of the iceberg. Morocco has spent the last decade investing in its football infrastructure and preparing younger generations to feed the national team and local clubs.

Mohammed VI Football Academy in particular has filled the training gap with the first fruit of its work at the global stage now ripe. Aguerd, Ounahi, En-Neseyri and Tagnaouiti are three graduates from the academy who all left their imprint on the success of the Moroccan team in the World Cup.

Soft Power

The roar of Moroccan streets after each win was echoed elsewhere in African, Arab and Muslim countries. The joy was shared among football fans in many other nations who enjoyed Morocco’s play.

 

This has stirred curiosity about Morocco in international media which shifted its spotlights to the north African country.

 

Global leaders including US president Biden, Arab Gulf Sheikhs, Turkish President Erdogan and Presidents of African countries including Senegal, Gabon and Mauritania, in addition to influential people such as Elon Musk and other renowned sports stars like Brazilian football legend Pelé have all congratulated Morocco and praised their incredible performance at the World Cup.

 

Morocco is poised to steal limelight again and showcase its organizational capacity and infrastructure as well as the passion of its fans for football as it braces to host the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in February.

 

Morocco will go down in history as a “trailblazer” and “a record-breaker” with the adage of the world cup saying “Argentina won the Cup, Morocco won the World.”

 

“Long live Africa and Morocco forever,” concluded Regragui in his concluding news conference at the World Cup.