- Par Nigel Bidmead
- BBC Sport Africa
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Youssef En-Nesyri has scored three World Cup goals, more than any other Moroccan.
After a slow start to Qatar 2022, the five representatives of Africa delivered the best World Cup in the history of the continent.
A record seven group stage victories – the five teams having won at least one match – was enough to propel two sides, Morocco and African champions Senegal, to a knockout stage for only the second time , and the first since 2014.
The Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semi-finals. But the Moroccans were finally defeated by France, the world champion in 2018.
After making their worst World Cup just four years ago, failing to reach the second round for the first time since 1982, Africa have bounced back in spectacular fashion.
“I am delighted with the level of African football because for several decades we have been talking about the development of African football (…) I think its time has come,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
So what exactly has the continent learned from Qatar 2022?
The Miracle of Morocco
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Moroccan Sofyan Amrabat was one of the best players in the tournament.
This is the African story of the World Cup: Morocco, an outsider, almost went all the way. The Moroccans finished top of their group beating Belgium and Canada before getting rid of Spain and Portugal to finally reach the last four.
Appointed last August, coach Walid Regragui recalled outcasts, brought in youngsters and cultivated a spirit that has made the Atlas Lions one of the top four teams in the world.
“We are much more than a family, more a club than a national team, said Regragui. I think that’s what gave us this great strength.”
“The whole world is proud of this Moroccan team. We showed envy, we played hard and we gave a good image of Morocco and African football,” he added.
Before Morocco’s sensational run, Africa – who officially finished fourth – had never made it past the quarter-finals. Only Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) had reached this stage of the competition.
A clear step forward for women referees
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Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga – the first female fourth referee in World Cup history – brings in Kylian Mbappé, during France’s loss to Tunisia.
For the first time in World Cup history, three women were among the 36 selected to serve as elite referees, with three others serving as assistant referees.
The Rwandan Salima Mukansanga, the French Stéphanie Frappart and the Japanese Yoshimi Yamashita were the pioneers of refereeing, even if only Ms Frappart is the first woman to have refereed a match.
Nonetheless, Mukansanga made history by becoming the first female fourth referee at a men’s World Cup in France’s 4-1 win over Australia, before taking charge of three more games. , including two against Tunisia.
After being the first woman to referee a men’s Africa Cup football match last January, the 34-year-old Rwandan is another source of inspiration for the next generation of African officials. FIFA says it selects the best referees regardless of gender.
“It means you will open doors for other women, especially in Africa,” Ms. Mukansanga said, adding, “The opportunities are there, it is up to us to seize them.”
Africa kills the giants again
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Vincent Aboubakar left Qatar with great excitement as he scored the goal that beat Brazil, before smiling bitterly at his red card. He is accused of having removed his jersey while celebrating his goal.
Africa is no stranger to knocking out defending champions, with Cameroon and Senegal beating Argentina and France in 1990 and 2002 respectively, but such a feat dates back some 20 years.
This time around, Tunisia ensured that their early exit ended on a high note. She stunned a weakened French side, thanks to a goal from veteran Wabhi Khazri.
“Of course we are disappointed to be eliminated, because we didn’t do enough in the first two games. But we made the Tunisian people proud,” the Tunisia captain said after the game.
This telluric shock was followed by another, as Cameroon became the first African team to beat Brazil, five times champion and favorite of the competition, in the World Cup.
Vincent Aboubakar’s 93rd-minute goal was not enough to keep the Indomitable Lions in Qatar, as it was for the Tunisians, but it delivered a meaningful message about the state of the African game.
“I did not even realize that it was a historic victory, reacted the national coach of Cameroon, Rigobert Song. My players must be congratulated, they showed that they could have done better. We will continue to work to improve ourselves.”
Support in the Middle East
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Moroccan fans hold up a replica of the World Cup during their historic campaign in Qatar.
North African teams on the continent have enjoyed massive support in Qatar, where there are already large Moroccan and Tunisian communities…
After Tunisia’s opener, a 0-0 draw against Denmark, coach Jalel Kadri was delighted with the support.
“The fan factor was very positive for us, it gave us a great mental boost,” he said.
However, it was ultimately the Moroccan fans who made the biggest impression, after the legions of fans of the most followed Argentine champions.
Tens of thousands happily descended on Qatar to see the Atlas Lions go further in the World Cup than any other African or Arab team before.
“It’s a night I will tell my children and grandchildren about,” Soufiane Megrini, a fan who had just watched the quarter-final win over Portugal, told the BBC.
Ghana recruitment not yet bearing fruit
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Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu scores as the Black Stars beat South Korea 3-2.
Ghana qualified for the tournament by beating Nigeria in the World Cup play-offs, but it was clear they needed more quality ahead of the World Cup.
With the technical director Chris Hughton, the leaders of football in Ghana therefore set out to persuade players of Ghanaian origin to join the project. Defenders Mohammed Salisu and Tariq Lamptey, as well as striker Inaki Williams are among the newcomers.
The recruitment of players with dual nationality after World Cup qualification has raised questions in Ghana, before and after the finals, especially with the elimination of the Black Stars in the group stage – even if they have at least got their revenge on their 2010 opponents by helping eliminate Uruguay.
“Football is beautiful, sometimes it’s ugly – it was ugly for us today. I’m sure we’ll learn from it,” coach Otto Addo said after the costly defeat.
Yet Addo was quick to step down leaving behind a World Cup squad built for the future with 12 players aged 23 or under – including Brighton & Hove Albion’s Lamptey and striker Antoine Semenyo, of Bristol City.
There is no better player than 22-year-old Mohammed Kudus, one of Africa’s most outstanding youngsters. The attacking midfielder shone. He scored two goals in Ghana’s only win.
A costly lack of depth for the African champions
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Senegalese players celebrate Ismaila Sarr’s penalty against Ecuador.
Senegal suffered a blow when star striker Sadio Mané, named the world’s second-best footballer two months ago, withdrew through injury on the eve of the finals.
The plans carefully drawn up by Aliou Cissé were upset, because the coach clearly did not have a replacement of a comparable level to that of Mané, despite the efforts of Ismaila Sarr, author of a double, Bouna Dia and of Iliman Ndiaye, to follow closely.
But without Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), suspended, and Cheikhou Kouyaté, injured in the group stage, the Lions of Senegal struggled to contain England and lost.
“In all African countries, there is a real sports policy. We must continue on this path if we want to win these tournaments,” said Cissé after his elimination in the round of 16.
Having gone further than ever, the continental confidence garnered in Qatar prompted Morocco coach Walid Regragui to say that a first world title will be won by an African team in less than two decades.