Before Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, only Cameroon in Italia (1990) Senegal in Korea/Japan (2002) and Ghana in South Africa (2010) had reached the last eight at the FIFA World Cup, but Morocco’s victory at the Al Thumana Stadium at the 2022 FIFA World Cup revisited the history books.
The FA President of Morocco, Fouzi Lekjaa focused on developing football in Morocco and has invested heavily in domestic football and Women’s Football.
He was elected in 2014 and 2022 again in 2023, he has achieved most in terms of legacy project.
Almost uniquely in Africa, they invest huge sums in the country national teams, with the 16.29 millions pounds devoted to women football over the period of four-year.
The support has helped Morocco reached both its First Women’s Africa Cup of Nation’s Final and qualified for the Women’s World Cup currently going on in Australia and New Zealand.
Biggest defeat for their Women National Team was against Nigeria 8-0 on 17th October 1998 in Kaduna.
On 22 February 2020, “Atlas Lionesses” of Morocco managed to win the 2020 UNAF Women’s Cup after defeating Algeria 2-0 to top the final standing.
After the hiatus and lack of achievements, the Women’s AFCON was expanded to 12 teams which was described to start in 2020, but due to COVID-19 pandemic, the first edition was held in Morocco 2022 instead.
In 2022, using home advantage, Morocco restarted its women’s team that has long been relegated. With greater interest, Morocco was able to create history by reaching the semi-finals in their home soil.
With this achievements, Morocco made a historic chapter as the first North African Country to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. They went on to make another historic chapter as the first North African to participate in the final of continental tournament by beating African powerhouse and three time defending champions Nigeria on penalties.
However, Morocco could not finish its dream in the final after losing to experienced South Africa side, who two goals crushed the Moroccan team to win the title.
Also on the age grade competitions.
On 7th July 2022, Morocco were awarded the hosting rights of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, marking the return of the U-23 team to the competitions for the first time in 12 years and which they were champions by defeating Egypt in the final by 2-1, U-17 National Team runners-up in Arab Cup U-17 losing to Algeria.
Champions of UNAF U-17 tournament in 2022.
For achieving these feats it shows the government and the federation work hand-in-hand on football master plan development of infrastructures and training programs.
The Men’s team “Atlas Lions” World Cup success is not accidental nor a fluke, but a success they have built and worked for. And it takes them years to achieve it.
Apart from the National Teams, they have been high-flying and achieved success in club football topping in 3 best league in the Africa with several CAF Champions League titles, CAF Confederations Cup titles and CAF Super Cup titles in the last few years.
Though Wydad Casablanca lost to Al Ahly of Egypt in CAF Champions League two legged final but the facilities, passion from the fans were massive.
Morocco are above over other African Countries interms of facilities, with the men’s team have been helped by the state of the heart facilities at the Mohamed VI training complex, which is unrivaled on the continent.
Walid Regragrui who is the head coach of their male national team hipped praised on his team in Qatar, that self-belief been an important factor in their run to the last four, topped the group which contained Belgium second ranked team in the World, and 2018 runners-up Croatia, before defeating 2010 World Cup winners La Roja, Spain in the last 16 and eliminated Portugal in the quarter-finals, before they eventually lost to loser’s finalists France in the semi-finals and Croatia in third place match but with their head held high for their outstanding performance at the mundial.
The genuinely invest has yielded something meaningful and has placed them on the world map.
They dreamt of making it to the final, but couldn’t, despite that, they won the hearts of everyone in Africa, Arab and World at large.
In Sports, success can not be achieved overnight it takes time, plan, training, hard work, patience, consistency and development.
Morocco are the best in Africa when it comes to organization as it is always top-notch when hosting tournaments, award ceremony and other related sporting activities.
According to FIFA Ranking, Morocco is leading the Ranking with 1,655.60Pts, 42.89points ahead of Senegal who is the 2nd with 1,612.49.
Morocco financial capacity can never be overlooked as they have the best facilities to host international matches.
They are the only African country who have hosted FIFA Club World Cup.
So Morocco deserves to host top events in Africa.
Come 11 December, 2023 CAF Awards will make its return to Morocco to celebrate Africa’s finest.
So If truly other African countries want the success for Africa, Morocco has achieved beautifully, they really need to invest hugely and genuinely to compete at the highest level.
CAF and its members affiliated Association also need to follow suits and continue progressing on good governance practices to implement good intentions and learn from Morocco’s achievements.
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