As an African football fan, The Morocco versus France quarterfinal was our worst nightmare. Of every single game that has been played, this one was the hardest to watch, and was the one fixture we prayed would never happen.
Because tell, who do you choose?
Forget all the hullabaloo about Morocco distancing themselves from the rest of Africa and their coaches comment about them playing for themselves and not representing anyone. Sisi haituhusu! The general mood on social media was that, that is their problem to deal with, and that at the world stage we shall support them, and deal with whatever issue there is after the world cup.
And so here we were.
On one side stood Morocco, carrying most of africa’s hope, and on the other stood France, a team full of players we have watched and shamelessly rooted for over the years. What’s there not to love about the French players? (errr, i am talking to you especially, dear girls.)
In as much as we wanted Morocco to make history, we also couldn’t bring ourselves to dislike France. Emotional damage, that’s what, and before the referee had even blown the whistle.
Being an African Football Fan Is Like Chasing the Wind
I think I fell in love with football because of Senegal. That was the first time I was really introduced into the football world.
The year was 2002, and I was just a little girl watching my father transform into someone I had never seen before.
The 2002 World Cup.
Every time Senegal played, our home became a stadium. My sisters and I stayed up late watching the matches with our dad, never mind that we were girls and that he never had a son to share those moments with. He didn’t seem to care. We screamed at the television together, supporting the teams he supported and cursing those he didn’t.
When Senegal won, my father lifted us into the air, laughing like a little boy who had just been given the greatest gift imaginable.
When they finally lost in the quarterfinals, he cried real tears. As a child, I remember being confused. How could grown men cry because of football?
Growing up is understanding that he wasn’t crying because Senegal had lost. He was crying because Africa had lost.
That is what people who are not from this continent sometimes fail to understand. When an African nation makes a deep run at the World Cup, the borders disappear completely. A Kenyan becomes Senegalese, a Nigerian becomes Moroccan and a Ugandan becomes Ghanaian. Speaking of Ghanian, remember when they reached the quater finals of the world cup. I remember vividly, how the whole of Africa was behind them. We had nightmares for years of how Asamoah lost that penalty….i have never felt such disappointment in the air. It is the one and only time the world felt that silent. Literally, the whole neighbourhood was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. For like 10 minutes, it’s like the world came to a stop.
That is why Morocco versus France felt like such a cruel fixture. We wanted Morocco to keep making history, but we also found ourselves cheering every time France’s stars reminded us why they are among the best in the world.
Supporting African teams at the World Cup requires a special kind of optimism.
Every four years we gather around our televisions convinced that this is finally our tournament, but somehow deep inside, we know we are going nowhere.
Being an African football fan is like chasing the wind. We know the odds have rarely favoured us, but we chase the dream all the same because one day, surely, the wind will change direction.
Morocco Have Mastered What Africa Has Been Missing
If there is anything the Morocco side has taught us, is that African teams do not have to show up simply to participate. Egypt also proved they could stand toe to toe with one of the world’s biggest footballing nations.
For years, African teams have often looked as though they respected football’s traditional giants just a little too much.
There has always been that invisible inferiority complex. You know, that feeling that ohh, Brazil are Brazil. Or that Argentina are Argentina and, France are France.
Morocco have completely rejected that mentality.
They defend and attack like they belong and they go in expecting to win.
That confidence is exactly what more African teams need to carry into the next World Cup. Respect your opponent, yes. Fear them? Absolutely not. Remember, once the whistle blows, everyone starts at nil nil.
France Were Simply Clinical
If Morocco had to lose to anyone, France made the defeat easier to accept because they were simply outstanding.
France do not need twenty chances to score. They do not panic when put under pressure. They defend with discipline, move the ball intelligently and punish mistakes with frightening efficiency.
Clinical is probably the best word to describe them.
The Mbappé Headlines, The Senator Drama and Every Other Talking Point
It wouldn’t be a World Cup without controversy.
From the endless conversations surrounding Kylian Mbappé to the viral discussions involving the senator (one thing we will not do here is mention her name and make her any more famous) that had football fans debating across social media, France have somehow managed to be at the centre of football conversations both on and off the pitch.
The tournament has also seen countless online debates about refereeing decisions and allegations of bias from fans whose teams have exited the competition.
Whether those frustrations are justified or simply the emotions that come with knockout football, they have certainly added another layer to this unforgettable World Cup.
So… We Are All French Now?
Now that Morocco have bowed out, African fans are homeless….or maybe not. Messi still has his die hard battalion that will go with him wherever he goes.
But seriously, who do we support now?
Well… if we Africans know what is good for us, perhaps we should all quietly rally behind France.
Many of France’s biggest stars have African heritage or close family ties to the continent. Their victories are celebrated in African homes almost as passionately as they are in Paris. We have watched these players grow into global superstars and many of us secretly cheer for them even when we pretend not to.
And, if all those online allegations about FIFA favouring the traditional football powers are to be believed by sections of the internet, then perhaps the easiest way to beat the system is to support the team everyone thinks the system wants to win anyway.
I’m joking…..or am i?
So yes, Morocco, thank you for making us dream once again, and Egypt for reminding us that courage belongs on the biggest stage.
And France…
Congratulations.
It seems you’ve just inherited an entire continent of temporary supporters.
At least until the next World Cup, when we’ll once again convince ourselves that this is finally Africa’s year.
