BY SOLOMON MWANJA AND WHITNEY FLAVIA KASALIRWE
Finally, the “Casablanca” question has been answered. Since 1970, Morocco has made it to the world cup finals six times which are not consecutive but competitive.
It has managed to extend their top level since 1998 at the last 16 stage with quality players like; Mustafa Haji.
The leadership of Morocco as a state, sat down and strategized on how to deal with football as a brand. Currently, they have arguably the best football academy facilities in the world all round. They managed to reach at the finals with South Africa in the women’s world championship.
Morocco are in the World Cup quarter finals for the first time in history after Spain missed three penalties. The two teams couldn’t get a breakthrough goal after 120 minutes and Spain failed to net any of their three penalties, Morocco goalkeeper Yasin’s Bounou brilliantly saving two making Morocco the first African country after Algeria in 2014 to make it to the quarter finals. It was noise in the stadium from the kick-off as Morocco fans outnumbered the Spanish fans.
They are a North African state state which boarders Spain, but this has not prompted them from exiting their neighbors from the grand world tournament. Morocco has hopes of hosting both the AFCON and world cup in 2025 and 2030 respectively. and probably all this show down is to prove to the world that they could be up to the task.
This is evident with President Museveni’s tweet among other leaders in Uganda talking about the the Moroccan government asking for Uganda’s support toward their might vision of hosting the AFCON in 2025.
They are also having a bid underway in negotiations with neighbors Spain, to host the world cup together in 2030.Surprisingly, it was like any other day with dark clouds, the match between Morocco and Spain kickoff.
Unexpectedly, it ended in a goalless draw whereby players like; Pablo Sarabia, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Morata, and Pedri missed chances for Spain while Youseff Eri Nassir, was replaced by Warid Khedira also missed clear and open chances for Morocco.
The day was all taken by Yasin Borrol who was the man of the match and also, he was the best goal keeper in Spanish La liga last season and also best player of the month of his team this season.
He managed to save 3 penalty kick just as Dominic did for Croatia and it ended 3-0 in favour of Morocco.
Yasin sent his country to the quarter finals for the first time in history of the World tournament and they still hold the golden flag of Africa at the moment.
The question that remains before us is;
Will the Atlas Lions surpass the record of the other three African giants that’s; Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana, or the the reverse is true?
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