adminAFRICA has a representative in the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in a dozen years.
On Tuesday night, Morocco held their nerve, in a penalty shootout, to defeat the highly-rated Spain, who collapsed in the shootout.
The Spaniards, who started the tournament with a bang, after scoring seven against Costa Rica, could not convert even one of their three kicks from the spot.
They might have dominated possession but they ran into an inspired Moroccan side, powered by their defensive discipline, who are yet to concede a goal, scored by an opponent, at this World Cup in Qatar.
The last time African had a representative in the quarter-finals of the World Cup was in South Africa in 2010 when Ghana’s Black Stars dined with the game’s royalty.
However, the adventure, which brought the entire continent together, ended in heartbreak when Suarez cheated with his hand and Asamoah Gyan missed from the penalty spot.
The same penalties, which were a source for so much heartbreak in Africa in 2010, after Uruguay edged Ghana in a shootout, provided a lot of joy for the continent on Tuesday night, with Morocco winning this time around.
The Moroccans have had a tricky relationship with the rest of the continent.
In 1984, the country left the African Union after the continental grouping recognised the independence of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Morocco would remain outside the AU for 33 years until their readmission in January 2017.
The country’s decision not to host the 2015 AFCON finals, after an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, was roundly condemned across the continent.
It enraged the Confederation of African Football who suspended Morocco from participating in the tournament and punished them with a raft of other sanctions.
However, in the past few years, the Moroccans have worked very hard to repair their relationship with the rest of the game’s leaders on the continent.
Their victory over the Spaniards, who won the World Cup the last time an African country reached the quarter-final of the tournament, in 2010, has been hailed as a monumental achievement.
It has helped the continent to repair its image, as a place where the game has not been developing as per expectations, especially after the elimination of all our representatives, in the group stages, in Russia four years ago.
The Atlas Lions’ success is also a boost for local coaches given that the country’s best run, at the World Cup, has come under one of their own.
All the African nations, at this year’s World Cup, were under the guidance of their home coaches and there were fears that, should they all fail, it would leave local tacticians in a fix.
Now, they have an example of one of them who has done it, becoming the first African coach to take a team to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
It’s a huge achievement for African coaches.
Now, Morocco should try to reach the semi-finals, by beating Portugal, in their next match.
Online Reporter