World Cup in Qatar｜Personal Viewpoint: Xinhua News Agency, Doha, December 12 (Reporter Gongbing) The Atuma Stadium was shining brightly on the evening of the 10th. The Moroccan team defeated Portugal 1-0 and became the first African team in the history of the World Cup to enter the semi-finals!
"History in Africa! "Amazing achievement!" the CAF hailed on social media.
This is indeed an achievement worthy of special mention. After all, this is the most magnificent stroke written in the history of the World Cup by an African team after participating in the World Cup for the first time in 1934 and after 88 years of hard work
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On December 10, in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Morocco beat Portugal 1-0. The picture shows the members of the Moroccan team throwing up the head coach Regeraji to celebrate after the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lan Hongguang
What football is to Africa is the arduous footprint left in the "journey" of the World Cup.
As early as the second World Cup in 1934, the African team (Egypt) began to be associated with the World Cup, but the Egyptian team was eliminated by the Hungarian team in the first round (there were only knockout matches at that time). Although they lost 2:4 to their opponents, Abdulrahman Fazi, the Egyptian player who scored twice, scored the first goal of the African team in the World Cup.
Afterward, there were both reasons for war and reasons for Africa to compete with other continents for a place in the main match. African teams did not appear again until the 1970 World Cup. At that time, it happened to be the Morocco team that wrote history in Qatar to represent Africa, but the Morocco team was at the bottom of the group and missed the promotion.
Eight years later, in the World Cup in Argentina, the African team finally ushered in its first victory - the Tunisian team defeated the Mexican team 3:1 in the first group match, but still missed the group stage.
In the 1986 World Cup, the African team finally advanced to the knockout round for the first time, and it happened to be the Moroccan team that made a historical breakthrough. After that, Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010) all broke into the quarter-finals, until the Morocco team wrote a new chapter in the semi-finals of this World Cup.
On November 30th, in the World Cup Group D match, Tunisia defeated France 1-0. The picture shows Tunisian players celebrating the goal of teammate Wahbi Hazri during the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu
In Africa, football is a means to enhance national unity and eliminate racial discrimination.
In 2010, the World Cup entered the African continent for the first time, which not only sowed more football seeds in Africa but also showed the world the unique style of Africa. Former South African team captain Radebe said: [Notes 2022] Capello's prediction and Ronaldo's show "For South Africans, this World Cup has a special meaning. Football has done a lot for South Africa. It has united blacks and whites and put South Africa on the world map."
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Have you ever thought that South Africa was once harmed by the "apartheid system", and African Football Federation and FIFA also rejected South Africa for a time? With the efforts of former South African President Nelson Mandela and others, this system was finally abolished, which not only enhanced national unity but also restored the "purity" of football, allowing South African football to truly integrate into the world football family.
On May 22, Salah (right), who played for Liverpool in the Premier League, celebrated his goal. Xinhua News Agency
Football is a kind of nature and a kind of belief in Africa.
Africans are unrestrained and enthusiastic by nature, and football can just reflect this kind of flamboyant and active personality, as well as the nature of being integrated with nature.
It is based on this nature that Africa is rich in stars. Enwankovo Kanu, who led the Nigerian team to win the gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games, Salah, the Egyptian player who won the Premier League Player of the Year, and Yaya Touré, the Ivorian player who won the African Footballer of the Year four times, won the gold medal alone in 1995. Portugal v Switzerland preview: Can Ronaldo answer the doubters with his performance? The Liberian player George Weah, who won the Ball Award, the World Footballer, and the African Footballer, and Roger Mira (Uncle Mira), who scored 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup and helped the Cameroon team break into the quarterfinals, etc. It's a familiar name.
The reporter went to South Africa and Morocco to cover the 2010 World Cup and the 2013 Club World Cup respectively. Wherever he went, he often saw many children playing football in the country fields and on both sides of the road. Smile and enjoy the happiness brought by football.
Senegalese player Demba Ba, who once played for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League, said that for a player, the only goal is to enjoy football as much as he did at the beginning of their entire career.
This may explain why football has become a religion in Africa.
On February 17, 2001, the Liberian star George Weah (above) who played for Marseille in the French League 1 jumped up to compete with the opponent's Argentine foreign aid Mauricio Pochettino. Xinhua News Agency
For Africa, football is a way to get rid of poverty and change destiny.
George Weah was born in a slum in Liberia. After being discovered by scouts at the age of 14, he entered a local club in Liberia and started his professional career. After transferring to Ligue 1 powerhouse Monaco at the age of 22, he got the careful guidance of world-famous coach Arsene Wenger. Since then, he has in the pinnacle of his career at AC Milan. After retiring, Weah stepped into politics and was elected President of Liberia in 2017.
Football changed Weah's fortunes; he brought hope and inspiration to African players.
On December 10, Morocco player Ennesri celebrated after scoring a goal in the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu
The semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup are about to be staged, and the Morocco team, which has already made history will challenge the defending champion France. This Moroccan team has sharp offense, strong defense, and strong tactical discipline, which almost subverts the common perception of African teams.
Will the "Lions of Atlas" continue to let the world hear their roar? Will the history of African football continue to be written?