Sunday Oliseh, former Super Eagles coach, has rated the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar as the best so far for African teams.
Morocco made record as the first African team in history to qualify for the World Cup semi-final against France after they defeated Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-final.
The Atlas Lions of Morocco topped group F after finishing ahead of Belgium, Croatia, and Canada. The North African side then beat Spain in the round of 16, emerging victorious with a 3-0 scoreline in the penalty shootout.
Morocco will play against defending champions France in Doha’s Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday (today).
Commenting on the match, Oliseh tagged this the greatest tournament for Africa as each African side that participated in the tournament won at least one match.
Oliseh during a FIFA Technical Study Group press conference said, “As far as Africa is concerned, this is the greatest tournament my (Africa) continent has ever had, not only because we have an African and an Arab nation in the semi-finals for the first time, but because every African team that has come here has won one game at least.”
Recall that Senegal who were without their star forward, Sadio Mane defeated Qatar and Ecuador in Group A, Cameroon edged Brazil by a lone goal after playing out an enthralling 3-3 draw with Serbia, Tunisia also beat France 1-0 while Ghana were also 3-2 winners over South Korea.
He added, “Senegal got to the second round and played very well despite missing their best players.”
He also lauded Morocco ahead of their crunch tie against World heavyweight France.
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“Morocco have made the most of their compact defence and the whole team work so hard without the ball.
“Sofiane Amrabat has also done a fantastic job in plugging the gaps. And when they go into defensive mode, they have triangles everywhere. Playing with triangles makes it difficult for opposition players to play a pass and break the lines without being crowded out. And how has that worked out for Morocco? They have only conceded one goal, which wasn’t scored by the opposition but by themselves.”
Morocco has not conceded a goal from an opposition player in this World Cup, with the only goal against them coming through Nayef Aguerd’s own goal against Canada.
“Look, we’ve had great players play in the European League. In fact, we are the ones and the South Americans and Europeans; we are the ones that have made football in the Champions League what it is. The variety, the beauty that comes with it, you know and now the Arab world has joined in, which is also great,” Oliseh added.
Source: Punch
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