By Victor Enyinnaya on December 19, 2022

The curtain for the much talked about World Cup football tournament in Qatar was drawn

yesterday with Argentina who dethroned former champions, France of the coveted crown as the new

World Cup kings.  It was not won on a platter of gold. It lived up to its billing of a World Cup final witnessed in quite a long ago.

It was a thrilling World Cup final as both teams displayed their mastery of the round leather and put their numerous fans on their edges as the anxiety heightened throughout the duration of the tensed up match.

Truth is that Argentina owes the hard-earned victory to Lionel Messi who ultimately served as inspiration for his teammates. If you like call it one solution, one transaction specially spread headed by veteran footballer, Messi the magic man of Argentine national side. What a final game, the two sides gave out their best, displayed quality football at its best. The bench of both sides showed lots of gritty and technical excellence.  France coming from behind to level up gave them proved that they were technically and tactically balanced team and champions stuff in them. It would remain one World Cup finals to remember in long time to come. Both teams showed they were strong side to reckon with.

Recall that Morocco were ranked 22nd before the just concluded World Cup and currently they have come 4th place after defeating Belgium, Spain and Portugal in the tournament. While this is seen as a huge achievement not just for Morocco, but for Africa too worldwide. Some Africans feel differently because of the misconception that Moroccans don’t feel proud to identify themselves as Africans.

The above belief about the Northern Africa country to this columnist whether true or imagination has been making the rounds and my question has been if Morocco truly displays such, which continent are they from?  Because geographically, the country is located in the Northern part of Africa and so are

Africans thoroughly. Let’s say here without any mistake that if Morocco believes so then the country is living in fool’s paradise. Whether the people of Morocco like it or not, they are Africans hence their national Team, the Atlas Lions was one of the continent’s five representatives, Period. I digress,

Head or tail, they are in Africa, as far as a country identity and location is concerned though wrongly, and looking at those that don’t need them they consider themselves to be Arabs. To cut the make believe short, they are African Arabs. Moreover, usually when referring to Africa most people are actually talking about sub-Saharan Africa, which brings the stereotypical views that they cannot be Africans as there’s not one black player in their team.  It may not be out of context that these misinformation and hear says about Morocco’s status of being African or Arabian country may have contributed to the hate for Morocco too much despite finishing 4th in the just concluded World Cup as an African Team. You see, this is weak argument that is wholly out of place. Morocco, a typical African country has done well.

This has caused a lot of hate for them on social media so far since the idea that they don’t have black players which disqualifies them on paper as Africans. However, what most people don’t  understand is that in this time and age, you don’t need to be black in order to be an African.  Because if we are judging by colour then by that understanding none of the North African countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria are Africans. So, it is wrong to do that because rather than call them Arabs, it is best to say that they are Africans who speak Arabic just like any other African country that speaks a foreign language as its official language. That is that and so dusted as we move forward. Morocco has done African football pride, The North Africa’s exploits at the recently concluded World Cup in Qatar is truly a fate in all ramifications.

Morocco no doubt has boxed many football power countries in Africa into critical thinking corner. The African country dismissed Spain amongst others before it was stopped by the defending champions, France at the semi-final stage. It was great showing African countries that have the capacity can truly build on it to move on. It was how Cameroun did in Italy 1990 when it became the first African country to bath into that stage of the championship before the like of Senegal followed.

Congratulations to Morocco and all the stakeholders in that country who ensured proper things were put in place hence this world attention for best reasons. It has sent strong signal to those countries and people that still underrate the continent and her steady quest and spirited efforts to develop her game to compete  glaringly in the world stage. Sincerely speaking, the Moroccans will not leave any stone unturned to ensure her state of football will not be lowered.

The north African nation has set high performance for herself and other African countries to follow. It will be great if Africa can take it from there. While we applause their forbearance and steadfastness on this project in Qatar, we urge the football managers in that country not to relent on ways forward for better outing next edition.  For other African nations, Morocco has set standard how it should be thence on.  Africa has extended much resources to improve her football through hiring foreign coaches that have helped them win Africa Cup of Nations and many have also been aiming at the World Cup success story too.

This columnist says Morocco has done beautifully well in this year’s World Cup tournament in Qatar. The beat must go on. The wakeup call for Africa has come. For Nigeria, a country without a defined system other countries would continue to do better at the World sporting meets while Nigeria is riddled with bad administration laced in deep corruption at all levels. Nigeria has the potential to move decisively up the ladder in sporting championships, be in the continent or at the World level.

For instance we have seen how the immediate past NFF executive led by Amaju Pinnick burgled our football in all spheres topping it up with hiring a Portuguese coach who knew next to nothing. Nothing absolutely nothing good came out of our football from that regime.  Sadly we witnessed more of failures and steady decline in the game.  Players in the national team today are not fit to be Super Eagles players.  The way forward this columnist would suggest is total overhaul of the team from top to bottom.  Nothing than that will be good enough, Super Eagles team has been reduced to a mere primary school side especially witnessed during the miserable tenure of Amaju Pinnick.

Never in the history of the Super Eagles since 1994 has Nigerians been so disenchanted with her once upon a time prized team.  Ibrahim Gusau though a core extension of the old order currently on the saddle, has an uphill task ahead.  One of his focus would be to find way around re-venting the Super Eagle into a compact squad it used to be. We need a clean and clear break.

The pathetic story of the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be told here in a later date. Keep shooting hard till next week. Meanwhile we wait!!

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted December 19, 2022

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