Morocco players and officials applaud the fans after their third-place match against Croatia at the Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. REUTERS
Morocco coach Walid Regragui has declared Africa can win the World Cup in 15 to 20 years – drawing from the exploits of the Atlas Lions, who made history in Qatar 2022.
Morocco became the first African side to reach the semi-final of football’s prestigious showpiece when they knocked out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
However, successive losses to France in the semis and Croatia in the third-place match means the North Africans leave the FIFA World Cup Qatar without a medal. Nonetheless, they have inspired billions in Africa and the Arab world.
Speaking to the media after the third-place match, Regragui said Morocco’s journey has shown reaching this stage is possible for an African side, but stressed countries have to work hard and make going beyond the group stage part of their football DNA.
According to Regragui, European teams fare better at the World Cup because they have participated in several tournaments, gaining the needed experience passed down to several generations of players.
The next World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, will be expanded to 48 teams, and Africa will have at least nine slots – up from the current five.
“Our problem in Africa, without meaning to criticise, we can’t have just five African teams in the World Cup, given the number of teams there are,” Regragui said.
“When we see that Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa or Mali, who didn’t participate, it’s hard as it is just to come back. Now, I think we’ll have nine teams (in 2026), it’ll allow us to learn, and I think in 15-20 years, I’m certain an African team would win the World Cup because we’ll be back and apply what we’ve learned.
“This experience will teach our boys and give them a football DNA. I think even those who have watched the matches on TV have learned the necessary details from watching to win a World Cup title,” he added.
Regragui insisted Morocco gave a good account and showed that African teams work hard, adding that this memorable run doesn’t mean Morocco’s a lot stronger.
“We will have to learn, just like we learned from Ghana in 2010 in their quarter-final, how to pass that milestone.
“Africans and Moroccans have a goal to, hopefully, win the World Cup one day. Today I think we learned a lot from the semi-final and this third-place game.
Now, it’s going to put a lot more pressure on us, and it might lead to a stronger competitive spirit in Africa because everyone hopes to have the same journey as we did.”
Asked if this crop of Moroccans is the greatest generation of footballers, Regragui said they’ll have to dominate the African continent first by winning the African Cup of Nations trophy to cement their position as one of the greatest.
The Atlas Lions have won the AFCON just once in 1976 and have only gone as far as the quarter-finals in the last three editions.
“I say to the boys in the locker room, if you want to make history, you have to win the Africa Cup. By winning an African Cup, we will be the best African team.
“Before being the king of the world, you have to be the king at home. We have to dominate our continent. It may be an aggressive speech from me, but we’re ambitious and want to do it.”
