For Maroc, For Africa -By Ayobami Okerinde

The year 2022 will remain an unforgettable year for the Atlas Lions and Lionesses of Morroco, Moroccan football, and the people of Morroco entirely. It was a year Morocco was at the centerpiece of everything good about African football at all levels. The 2022 FIFA World Cup 4th place finish capped what has been a fantastic year, as they set a new record as the first African side in the history of the World Cup to cross the quarterfinal hurdle and play in the semifinal. This article highlights what Moroccan football has been like in 2022.

World Cup 4th place finish
Morroco’s fourth-place finish at the World Cup is arguably the best thing to happen to African football in the year. The Atlas Lions qualified for the World Cup by beating DR Congo 5-2 on aggregate in the final qualifying round, to pick one of the five slots allocated to Africa at the World Cup. Before the World Cup, the Moroccan FA sacked Franco-Bosman coach, Valid Halilhodzic, just three months before the tournament. Halilhodzic was dismissed for leaving out players like Hakim Ziyech (which made him retire from International football), Amine Harit and Noussair Mazraoui. In August 2022, the Moroccan FA announced the appointment of ex-international and Wydad Casablanca coach, Walid Regragui, to lead the team to the World Cup in Qatar.

Morroco was drawn into Group F alongside Croatia, Belgium, and Canada. On paper, the Moroccans had little hope of qualifying considering the strengths of their opponent. The Atlas Lions drew their first game 0-0 against Croatia, before defeating Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 respectively. Morroco topped the group and finished as one of the teams with an unbeaten record in the group stage. The team defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes, in the round of 16, before going on to beat one of the tournament’s favorites, Portugal, 1-0 in the quarterfinal. The team’s journey however ended following a 2-0 to the eventual runners-up, France. In the third-place game, Morocco lost 2-1 to the group-stage opponent, Croatia, to finish fourth.

HOSTING RIGHTS
Beyond the performances on the pitch, Morocco was also at the center of hosting tournaments and finals on the continent. On 15 January 2021, Morocco was awarded the hosting rights for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament was held between 2-23 July 2022. The tournament also saw the country witness massive success in its women’s football and set new records.

The Atlas Lionesses defeated the tournament’s most successful team, Nigeria, 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 in 120 minutes to advance to the final. In the final, the team lost 2-1 to South Africa to finish as runners-up. The team’s performance was their best finish at the tournament, and it also saw them qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in their history.

The country also hosted the 2022 CAF Champions League final which was played at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on May 30, 2022. In a similar vein, the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat hosted the 2022 CAF Super Cup game which is usually played between the winners of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.

WINNING TOURNAMENTS
Morocco once again extended their dominance to club football competitions on the continent. In the CAF Champions League, Wydad AC (of Morocco) defeated Al Ahly, the tournament’s most successful team, 2-0 to win their third CAF Champions League title. In the CAF Confederations Cup, RS Berkane (of Morroco) defeated Orlando Pirates 5-4 on penalties to win their second title. The success of both teams saw the continent witness the first-ever all-Moroccan CAF Super Cup game. RS Berkane defeated Wydad 2-0.

In the second season of the CAF Women’s Champions League, Morocco also enjoyed some level of success. In the 2022 edition, the Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal (Women), AS FAR won all group games to top their group. The team then defeated Bayelsa Queens of Nigeria 1-0 in the Semifinal to advance to the final. In the final, the team defeated Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa 4-0 to win their first title.

On December 16, FIFA announced Morroco will host the Club World Cup scheduled to hold between February 1 to 11, 2023. This will be the third time the country will host the tournament, after hosting in 2013 and 2014. The country also in the year was confirmed as the 2024 host of the Women’s Nations Cup. The country has also submitted a bid to host the 2025 Men’s Nations Cup. With the level of success achieved in the year, Morroco will hope to build on it and be at the forefront of football, and sports in general on the continent.