PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has commended Morocco for reaching the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The Atlas Lions defeated Portugal 1-0 in Saturday’s quarter-final clash to become the first African team in World Cup history to reach the semi-finals.
The farthest African teams had reached before now was the quarter-finals, which Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) previously achieved.
Although his own country did not qualify for the global showpiece in Qatar after losing out in the playoffs to Ghana, President Buhari is celebrating Morocco for representing the continent with distinction.
“Congratulations to the Atlas Lions, and to King Mohammed VI and the people of Morocco, on the historic feat of becoming the first African country to win a semi-final place at the World Cup,” Buhari tweeted tonight.
“Morocco has made the entire continent proud; we are all rooting for their success!”
The Atlas Lions’ feat is the latest in a glorious year for Moroccan football after the country’s clubs, Wydad Athletic and RS Berkane, won the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup trophies respectively.
Morocco also hosted and reached the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to qualify for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup, while ASFAR won the Women’s CAF Champions League title.
The Lions face defending champions France in the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
