Africa’s only surviving team in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, will face former champions, France, in the first of the quarterfinal matches today.
However, a declaration by the North African country’s Sports Minister, Mohammad Saad Berrad, that Morocco is not playing for Africa, but for Morocco first, seems not to be going down well with many African football fans, who have stayed awake to support the country.
While Morocco will face one European heavyweight, France, Spain will battle against Belgium, just as the Three Lions of England will face Norway. The only South American team left in the race, former champions Argentina, will square up with Switzerland...To Read The Full Content; Tap Here Now .
Before the commencement of the 2026 World Cup, there were reports that Morocco was planning to move from Africa to join European football, just like Australia, which dumped Oceania for Asia a few years ago.
In his declaration yesterday, which has sparked negative comments on social media, Berrad said: “Morocco is not playing for Africa, but for Morocco first. Morocco is at the World Cup to represent Morocco, not Africa.”
Berrad argued that every country has a responsibility to defend its own national interests, honour, and identity whenever it takes part in international competitions.
Some fans, who were not comfortable with Berrad’s declaration, took to social media to attack him.
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One of the fans, who gave his name only as Samuel, said: “I think something is wrong somewhere. How can Morocco’s sports minister, Berrad, make such a declaration less than 24 hours before a crucial World Cup quarterfinal against France? He said Morocco does not need Africa’s support. That is unfair. Not just him, but every Moroccan has been saying this. They don’t appreciate African support.”
Another fan, Momodu, said: “It is unfair for such a declaration to come from Morocco’s sports minister at this stage of the World Cup. What it means is that even if we Africans continue to support the Atlas Lions to win the World Cup, we can’t lay claim to the trophy that an African team has won.”