The Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, surpassing the ceiling of the quarterfinals, where they had crashed in the past in Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).
In that edition from twelve years ago, in South Africa 2010, Shakira performed the well-remembered hymn “Waka Waka”, which includes that phrase from “This time for Africa”, which she now takes advantage of before the Moroccan milestone.
The World Cup in South Africa was the first in history to be played on African soil.
In football, reactions to the Moroccan feat followed one another.
“A sensational victory for Morocco. Brave, fiery, organized, calm and deserved. The first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. Well played,” former English soccer player Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter.
On the same social network, the former Ivorian attacker Didier Drogba also congratulated the Moroccans.
Ça y est, ils l’ont fait !!!! bravo le Maroc @FRMFOFFICIEL pour cet exploit
Live the Africa 🇲🇦 🇲🇦 🇲🇦 🇲🇦 🇲🇦 🇲🇦 @WalidRegraguiof frère suis trop content pour toi ♥️— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba)
December 10, 2022
“That’s it, they did it! Bravo Morocco for this success. Long live Africa! Walid Regragui (Morocco coach), brother, I’m very happy for you,” said the former Chelsea man.
Former Cameroonian soccer player and current president of his country’s Federation, Samuel Eto’o, stated that the entire continent now supports Morocco: “Incredible! Morocco is the first African country to reach the semi-finals. The entire continent supports you! “.
Former Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia, now a commentator for beIN Sports television, called the achievement “incredible.”
“We are in the semifinals of the World Cup, I don’t even believe it. I have goosebumps. It’s incredible. What they have achieved deserves great respect. The boys have given everything,” he said.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also joined the wave of congratulations on Twitter: “HISTORY OF THE CONTINENT! Morocco becomes the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals. What an achievement for the Atlas Lions!” .
Senegalese President Macky Sall also sent a message.
“Historical! And fantastic! The Atlas Lions qualified for the World Cup semifinals. Bravo, Morocco,” he exclaimed.