The team of African countries in the World Cup is indeed not as good as European or Latin American teams. During the prestigious quadrennial event, only three countries were able to advance until the quarter-finals. Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
However, Morocco managed to make a surprise at Qatar's 2022 World Cup. The team nicknamed Atlas Lionsini was able to shoot up to the semifinals after beating Portugal 1-0 at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022.
Wow! Morocco wins. Hearts to Portugal but a great moment for Africa and the Arab world. And it's very appropriate, they were fantastic tonight," tweeted British television presenter Piers Morgan on December 11, 2022.
Maybe no one has ever expected this achievement. In the Africa Cup of Nations alone, the Morocco national team only won once, this happened 46 years ago. In the 90s to 2000s, they were even more often hampered in the group stage.
Only one runner-up in 2004 and three quarter-finals in 1998, 2017, and 2021, as well as one-eightth of the finals in 2019 from 12 times participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Likewise in the World Cup. Of his six participations, Morocco's furthest achievement was only up to eight finals in 1986. In fact, at the previous World Cup in Russia, Morocco only got 1 point in the group B qualifiers against Spain, Portugal and Iran.
However, at Qatar's 2022 World Cup, they showed their quality. Able to occupy the top position of the group F with 7 points. drew with Croatia in the inaugural match, Morocco then got up by beating Belgium 2-0 in the next game. Then, won 2-1 again against Canada in the group's last game.
In the eight-finals, Morocco was able to match Spain's 2010 World Cup winner. Until finally Walid Regragui's team won on penalties. Yassine Bounou, the Morocco goalkeeper who played at the Sevilla club, performed well in the match. He was able to hold back three opposing penalties. Morocco won 3-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals.
In the match against Portugal, Morocco's game did not slow down. Yassine Bounou was again able to show his best performance by parrying a number of opponent kicks. Youssef En-Nesyri became the determinant of the Atlas Lion's victory thanks to his goal in the 42nd minute.
"We prove that the African team can advance to the semifinals of the World Cup. Or even the final, why not," Regragui told a press conference after the match.
The Athletic wrote, "They (Maroko) have given everything. They are quick to master the ball, strong in the tackle. Their fans are making a bustle, as they have done throughout this tournament. Finally, Morocco gave Africa the first World Cup semifinalist in nearly a century of experiments."
African Union President Macky Sall wrote on Twitter, using capital letters to emphasize his joy, "HYMPTOMATIC! AND FANTASTIC!" ATLAS LIONS QUALIFIED FOR THE WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS! BRAVO MOROCCO."
This time for Africa?' tweeted Shakira, the singer of the 2010 World Cup OST Waka Waka while including the emoticon of wearing Morocco's hands and flags.
Morocco's achievements so far cannot be separated from Walid Regragui's expertise in conciling teams. Regragui was appointed head coach ahead of two months before Qatar's 2022 World Cup, replacing Vahid Halilhodzic. His presence really changed Morocco's fortune on and off the pitch.
Regragui's first step was to call on Morocco's players to be born abroad. Of the 26 members of the Morocco team at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, 14 of them were born abroad. Some were born in Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and several other countries.
"Initially it was very difficult, because I was heavily criticized by questioning the reason not to call on players who were born in Morocco more. But now it is proven that the Moroccos are Morocco, they don't care where they were born. Precisely because they were born in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy and so on, the culture of football that was brought in variety. We managed to mix it well, and I am very happy, "said Regragui, who was born in France.
Regragui's next step was to convince the Morocco superstar Hakim Ziyech to return to the squad after being knocked out by the previous coach. Regragui believes the sharpness, flexibility, experience of the Chelsea winger is able to give the team a different color.
The results are clearly visible,ragui was able to revive stability within the Morocco camp, including harmony between the Morocco football association and fan bases. He was able to motivate his team to show their best performance.
The power that underlies his playing style is speed and effectiveness. With players like Ziyech, Sofyan Amrabat, Sofiane Boufal, and Achraf Hakimi, Morocco can quickly move from one end of the field to the other via fast and effective passes.
"Judging from match statistics data, Morocco's possession is only 32 percent in Qatar's 2022 World Cup so far. However, they are at the peak of history," Daniel Taylor said in his writing at The Analyst.
No wonder, this 47-year-old man is often referred to as the Morocco Guardiola. The nickname began to be pinned after he managed to bring in the Wydad AC, the Morocco football club that won the 2022 African Champions League.
His plontos display, taste of fashion, expression on the sidelines, and ability to read the situation in the game further popularized his nickname during Qatar's 2022 World Cup.
Apart from Diego Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti, Regragui also idolizes Pep Guardiola. The style of play of the three idols was adopted by his team.
Maybe in their victory against Spain Regragui distributed more Simeone than Guardiola, as his team from Morocco beat Spain with only 23 percent possession, Taylor wrote.
"We played against Spain, Belgium and Croatia and we know that, if we can cut their pass, we will have a chance," explained coach Regragui.
Morocco will face France in the semifinals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium on December 15, 2022. A difficult opponent. The speed and consistency of the defending champions France has been tested.
Can Regragui and the Morocco national team continue their success until the final round?
Accreting! Morocco is the first African country to reach the semifinals. The entire continent supports you," tweeted Samuel Eto'o, a former Barcelona striker from Cameroon, on December 11, 2022.
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