BY BHEKIMPILO WEZA
The Atlas lions of Morocco carry the African flag In Qatar as they prepare to face world champions France in a World Cup semi final today.
Morocco, who have taken the world by storm, beating soccer powerhouse Belgium and Spain enroute to semis, will be African hopeful for a first ever World Cup trophy to be won by an African Nation and the first to be won by an African coach.
They possess a good team, well disciplined and organised such that at any given day, Morocco can beat anyone who comes on their way.
The match against World Champion France will be a stern test not for Morocco alone, but Africa as a whole.
It will prove that indeed African football has reached expected heights in competing at the topest level in the world of football.
It seemed though that the Moroccans had a limited chance, but the victory over Spain and Portugal silenced all skeptics and now it’s time for a real dream which is four days away if the Atlas lions beat France on Wednesday night .
They have a very young squad, mostly dominated by local players, most of them playing for African champions league winners Raja Cassablanca.
Hakim Ziyech will as usual lead his troops tomorrow night against big players like Kylian Mbape, Oliver Giroud and Raphael Varane.
France won’t be an easy opponent,because of what the African Nation has done up to the semis but that does not matter as Morocco has made a bold move,”clamored Moroccans coach Walid Regragui said in an interview with BBC.
“We will compete for the CUP not history for being in the World Cup finals. No one is unbeatable.”
Despite all the statistics that will favour France, some Africans will all be behind Morocco as they fight to move a step further after reaching the semis for the first time and being the only African nation to do so
Teams that have done well in the World Cup have only managed a quarter final stage,and they include Senegal, Cameroon and Ghana.