There might have been some disappointment with their semi-final exit from the World Cup, but there was also a real sense of achievement after Morocco broke new ground for themselves, African and Arab football at the World Cup in Qatar.
Weary bodies, broken hearts and desolate faces but also immense pride after an incredible tournament that has the potential to be a game changer for African football.
Morocco’s exciting run to a first-ever World Cup semi - final will inject a new energy into African football and give hope to the continent’s teams when they return in larger numbers in four years’ time, with nine places at the 2026 finals in North America, and possibly one more through the play-offs.
African football had been in a crisis of confidence after the last World Cup in Russia, when none of the five teams made it out of the group phase. But that has all changed with the performance of Walid Regragui’s team in Qatar. Beating Belgium, Canada, Spain and
