Over the last sixty years, Morocco has reached several significant achievements for African football at the World Cup. They were the first nation to qualify directly for the finals in 1970 in Mexico. In 1986, they returned and became the first African team to advance to the knockout stage, and they made an impressive semi-final appearance in Qatar four years ago.
Even if the Atlas Lions do not replicate their previous performance and lose to France on Thursday, they have already made history as the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals in consecutive World Cups.
“The general feeling, amongst Moroccans, is pride and contentment in this team,” says Amine El Amri, a football journalist based in Casablanca who has been observing fans’ sentiments about the team’s performance closely. “The main goal before the competition was to reach the quarter-finals, given the context, given the change of manager, with the departure of Walid Regragui and the coming of Mohamed Ouahbi. I think the victory over the Netherlands cemented the reputation of Ouahbi as a trustworthy coach. Many doubts about him were cleared up after that match.
“The main goal before the competition was to reach the quarter-finals, given the context, given the change of manager, with the departure of Walid Regragui and the coming of Mohamed Ouahbi. I think the victory over the Netherlands cemented the reputation of Ouahbi as a trustworthy coach. Many doubts about him were cleared up after that match. “Beating Canada in the way we did, despite having a very difficult first half, has also added to that confidence. You have to be in Casablanca, in Marrakech, in every city and little town, to just measure how happy people are [with the team]. Our Saturday night was crazy – no one slept.”
The challenge awaiting them at Boston Stadium is daunting, as they face a formidable attacking trio comprised of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé.
Ouabhi’s calm management through challenging moments against the Netherlands and Canada showcases the composure necessary for the team to handle the pressures of high-level competition, states Joseph-Antoine Bell, a former goalkeeper for Cameroon and a veteran of the 1982, 1990, and 1994 World Cups.
“Nobody can play against Morocco at the World Cup and say that they are sure to win,” he remarks. “They can be behind in a game but they will never lose their temper, they will never be out of themselves, they focus and keep playing with confidence that their game will lead them to recovery.
“They can be behind in a game but they will never lose their temper, they will never be out of themselves, they focus and keep playing with confidence that their game will lead them to recovery. “This is what happens when a team have solved all their problems … They are able to totally focus on the games they are playing, without thinking about financial or administrative problems. This is a well-prepared team. Sadly, most of our teams in Africa are not operating at this level. When a country [like Ghana] will hire a coach with less than two months [to a World Cup], how do you want them to be ready?”
Ouahbi was appointed by Morocco in early March and oversaw five friendly matches during the lead-up, having worked with the under-20 and under-23 teams for four years. Conversely, Ghana only played twice under Carlos Queiroz prior to the World Cup, and their captain, Jordan Ayew, candidly expressed the challenges in acclimating to the Portuguese’s tactics after their elimination by Colombia in the last 32.
“You can’t do that in one month or two months,” he stated. “Football doesn’t work like that. Defensively, we were better. But we fell a bit short offensively, so we have to find the right balance now.”
In his farewell message to Ghana, Queiroz vaguely indicated the necessity for the football association to adopt a more professional approach in managing the national team. “The future of the Black Stars will not be built only on the pitch,” he stated. “Black Stars’ success must start off the field, by creating the best possible environment to prepare, protect and develop Ghana’s extraordinary football talent.”
Senegal’s football federation could benefit from Queiroz’s timely advice to Ghana, given that the Lions of Teranga’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, losing 3-2 to Belgium in the last 32 despite holding a 2-0 lead in the 86th minute.
Sunday Oliseh, the former captain of Nigeria and current head coach, who also served on Fifa’s technical study group at the last World Cup, is well aware of the heartache of losing a match after appearing to be in control, having experienced a 2-1 defeat to Italy at the 1994 World Cup after leading 1-0 from the 25th to the 88th minute.
“The only consolation was that we were naive and new to the trade,” he reflects. “But for it to happen now, with the experience our players in Africa have and knowing how teams close up shop, when they are 1-0 or 2-0 up, it’s worse. Many are blaming the coach but the experienced players should have also taken control.”
Bell believes that “football does not begin with footballers” and asserts that African teams will only achieve their World Cup potential when federations commit to effective governance. “I think we are getting closer and closer to winning a World Cup,” he emphasizes. “But if we are serious, we need to have three or four countries in the quarter-finals.” For the moment, despite Egypt’s valiant effort against Argentina, the Atlas Lions carry that significant burden alone.
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