The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is a watershed moment for African football. Previous African teams have always had a foreign coach at the helm but now, in this year’s historic global showpiece, all five African nations will be led by a coach who is 100% local.
Local can only be better – for the team and for the game
Rigobert Song is head coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon while Ghana will be managed by Otto Addo. The Atlas Lions of Morocco will be led by one of the continent’s brightest coaching prospects Walid Regragui. Aliou Cissé will man Senegal’s dugout and Tunisia will be led by Jalel Kadri. This is a massive milestone because of the continent’s football associations’ love for European and South American coaches, sometimes at the expense of their own.
It has become too common for a local coach to qualify an African nation for the World Cup, only to be dismissed on the eve of the global showpiece citing lack of “experience” only to bring a European or South American coach whose “experience” has seen them achieve nothing. Unsurprisingly, those coaches then fail to do anything with the African teams they don’t really know or understand.
This inferiority complex is among the reasons why no African nation has won the World Cup, or even reached the semifinals of the tournament. In the 90s, it looked like Africa was on the verge of conquering the world. Cameroon, led by Roger Milla, dazzled the world in the 1990 showpiece, including stunning the then reigning world champions Argentina. The Indomitable Lions were eventually knocked out in the quarterfinals. But Africa had arrived. When Nigeria won gold at the Olympics six years later, the African dream intensified.
A dream denied
But that dream has turned into a nightmare with Africa still in search of a maiden semifinal appearance. Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 matched Cameroon’s feat in the only two memorable performances of African nations since the Indomitable Lions’ display more than 30 years ago.
A number of reasons have contributed to this disappointing run. The main reason has been organisation. The continent’s football associations have been woeful in how they have managed their national teams. In almost every World Cup there is a bonus row with the top brass failing to honour promises they have met.
The situation was so dire in Brazil, Ghana’s football association had to fly $3-million to calm the rebellion that was brewing in the Black Stars camp. The Ghanaians were miffed that the association had failed to pay their bonuses but flew a number of dignitaries, in first class, to enjoy the month-long spectacle.
The other main challenge for African nations at the World Cup is their over reliance on one star player. When that player doesn’t shine, the whole team looks flat as they are too dependent on individual brilliance rather than a strong team approach.
Is Morocco the turning point?
Morocco doesn’t have any of those problems going into the showpiece that will run from 20 November until 18 December in the Middle East. In fact, Morocco have laid the foundation that will see them become a powerful team on the continent. The north African nation’s football association has invested heavily in coaching its coaches. The continent’s first CAF Pro Licence was hosted in Morocco where Regragui was among the first graduates.
The two trophies of the continent’s inter-club competition currently call Morocco home. RS Berkane are the reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions while Wydad Casablanca are the holders of the CAF Champions League. Even in women’s football Morocco has done well. Their senior women’s national team lost in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations to Banyana Banyana while Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales are the reigning CAF Women’s Champions League winners after thumping Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 4-0.
These developments are down to a well-run association that has invested heavily in the country’s football. But it will take more than this for Morocco to do well in the World Cup in Qatar. So, what sets them apart as the team that’s going to carry the continent’s flag in the showpiece?
Well for starters, Morocco has one of the toughest teams to break down. The Atlas Lions’ game is based on organisation, which is key in a knockout competition. They are not fancy, but they get the job done through their resolute defence. The return of Hakim Ziyech to the team, after his spat with former coach Vahid Halilhodzic who was sacked three months before the World Cup, means that Morocco have an added creative dimension to their game.
Regragui, who is sometimes referred to as “Morocco’s Special One”, is a tactically astute coach who knows how to get the best out of his players. The 47-year-old might be new to international football with the national team, but he has the heart and drive that could push Morocco to be a surprise package in the showpiece.
It will be a tough ask for Africa’s teams…
The Atlas Lions have to negotiate past a group that features Belgium, Canada, and Croatia. It’s a tough group, and if they can get out of it, they will start to believe that they can do well.
The Indomitable Lions have to negotiate past Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland in Group G. Ghana are in Group H with Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea. Tunisia find themselves grouped with Group A along with the hosts Qatar, Netherlands, and Ecuador.
Most of the continent’s hopes are on Senegal who come into this tournament as African champions with a galaxy of stars. Ghana and Cameroon might have been disorganised leading up to the showpiece, but they are led by coaches who inspire unwavering devotion. Tunisia and Morocco will be playing in familiar conditions in the Gulf.
…but it isn’t completely out of our hands
The African game hasn’t progressed to a point where we can start thinking about one of these five nations returning from Qatar with the title. But the small steps in the improvement in the running of the game inspire confidence that at worst the African nations will do better than the dismal performance in Russia where all five teams crashed out in the group stage. If there’s a team to break the semifinal glass ceiling this year, a good bet is backing Morocco to do so.