Following a remarkable record set by Morocco after becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup at the ongoing tournament in Qatar,
Four years ago, former Super Eagles coach and a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group at the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Sunday Oliseh, listed what African teams needed to do to flourish on the global stage.
The ex-Nigeria international stated this while comparing the Japanese team to the Moroccan team in 2018, emphasizing that the North Africans had the potential to reach the last four of the World Cup with proper planning and organisation.
The 48-year-old reposted the video from four years ago, after Morocco reached the semi-final of the World Cup in Qatar, the first time an African side will achieve the feat.
“I don’t agree that the Japanese team are better than other African teams because if the Moroccan team has the same facilities the Japanese have to prepare for the World Cup, Morocco will get to the semi-finals of the tournament,” Oliseh stated in the video.
“If they have the financial investment that they put into the team, Morocco will get to the semi-finals. If they have the same quality of organisation, sponsorships and preparations years before the World Cup that Japan have, they will reach the semi-finals.
“These are the things that are keeping the African teams down. But if you are talking of individual talents, physic and athleticism, African teams have all these qualities.
“It’s just the things that I mentioned earlier that the Japanese team has that the African teams do not have, and that is what makes the difference”
Morocco’s feat did not just happen overnight. Statistics show that they boast some of the best sports facilities in Africa and have successfully hosted major sports tournaments in recent times, a confirmation of what Oliseh foresaw at the 2018 World Cup.
The Atlas Lions are on the verge of setting another American record if they defeat defending champions France on Wednesday to reach the final of the World Cup.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
