Qatar 2022: the night Morocco shattered the African glass ceiling — and a continent held its breath alongside them. From Africa’s first World Cup point in Mexico 1970 to a historic semi-final in Qatar 2022, French outlet RFI traces how the Atlas Lions rewrote the continent’s place in the game — and what they are chasing next.
It is Morocco, Radio France Internationale argued on Saturday, that “paved the way for the other countries on the African continent” in the FIFA World Cup. In a piece titled “World Cup: Morocco paves its royal path”, RFI retraced the Atlas Lions’ journey across more than five decades on the global stage.
The story begins in Mexico in 1970 — Morocco’s first World Cup appearance, and the moment they secured Africa’s very first point in the competition. Sixteen years later, in that same country, they became the first African nation to reach the knockout stages.
Others followed. Cameroon and Nigeria emerged in the decades that came after. But RFI identifies 2018 as a turning point — a “revival” initiated by Morocco that would reach its peak four years later in Qatar.
“It was with a dynamic, pressure-free team that Morocco stepped up in Qatar in 2022 and made history by reaching the semi-finals, a first for an African national team”. — Radio France Internationale
Under Walid Regragui, the Atlas Lions “shattered the African glass ceiling” — defeating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal on the way to the final four. The quarter-final victory over Portugal ended 1-0.
A new chapter begins
The team that lines up today is a different one. Mohamed Ouahbi, who led the Atlas Cubs to the U20 World Championship, now manages the senior side. Morocco also arrive as reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, having won the 2025 edition on home soil.
RFI notes that the current squad “harbors great hopes and cherishes the dream of one day winning the World Cup”. The milestones, the outlet underscores, were crossed “slowly but surely” — and the journey is not over.
- Source: MAP