The Moroccan team advanced to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar and created a historic record. Never before has an African country progressed this far in a global final.
Morocco won Thanks to Portugal’s Youssef N-Nesiri’s goal on Saturday. For the ‘Lions of the Atlas’, the World Cup fairytale continues long after previous stints against Spain (win on penalties) and Belgium (2-0).
Morocco is the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) held the African record until the edition in Qatar. Morocco have already cemented themselves on that list after their penalty shootout win over Spain.
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In 1990, Cameroon became the first African nation to reach the last eight of the World Cup with the help of star player Roger Milla. Argentina, captained by Diego Maradona at the time, stumbled in their opening game as they beat defending champions Argentina 1-0. England prevailed 3-2 over the Cameroonians in the quarter-finals.
Twelve years later, an African stunt by Senegal followed, which knocked out title holders France in the group stage. Papa Bouba Diop and Henri Camara were the heroes of the Senegalese side. Turkey ended Senegal’s World Cup dream in the quarter-finals at the time, one of the tournament’s other exposures in Japan and South Korea.
Ghana used a favorable balance in 2010. Led by Asamoah Gyan, they finished second behind Germany and ahead of Australia and Serbia. After that, a favorable opponent was struck with the USA in the eighth final. In the end, Uruguay took the penalties better than Ghana in the quarter-finals.
Beste prestaties Afrikaanse landen op WK
- Halve finales – Marokko (2022)
- Kwartfinales – Kameroen (1990)
- Kwartfinales – Senegal (2002)
- Kwartfinales – Ghana (2010)
Only Europe and South America made the finalists
Europe and South America have already produced several finalists for the World Cup, but apart from Africa, North and Central America, Asia and Oceania have not (yet).
South Korea was the best Asian nation to reach the semi-finals in the 2002 World Cup.The record was achieved by the USA in the first edition of the World Cup in 1930. In Oceania, Australia is the eighth finalist (2006 and 2022).
Morocco will face either England or France in Wednesday’s semi-final. Both nations kick off the quarter-finals on Saturday at 8pm (Dutch time). France are the reigning champions in the Emirates. Another semi-final is between Argentina and Croatia.
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