Morocco 2022
Morocco at Qatar 2022 wrote the most extraordinary chapter in African football history. The Atlas Lions, managed by Walid Regragui, became the first African and first Arab nation ever to reach a World Cup semi-final. Their defence was a fortress: Yassine Bounou in goal, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui as marauding full-backs, and a centre-back pairing that conceded just one goal in open play throughout the entire tournament. They topped a group containing Belgium and Croatia, then beat Spain on penalties in the round of 16 and stunned Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-final Youssef En-Nesyri outjumping everyone. The semi-final against France ended 2-0, but Morocco competed until the final whistle. Their achievement transcended football: an entire continent and the Arab world celebrated as one. Morocco proved that the World Cup's glass ceiling had finally been shattered.
