CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has praised the performance of African teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and insisted the target must now be to go one better in future.
Morocco became the first African side to reach the semi-finals at football’s biggest showpiece after eliminating 2010 winners Spain and 2016 Euro champions Portugal in the knockout stages.
Walid Regragui and his side made Africa and Motsepe proud, and the CAF president feels the Atlas Lions have shown that it is truly possible for an African team to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
“Our aim at the next World Cup, with Morocco has made all of us proud, and all of the other four made us proud, is to go further,” he said during a press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
“The main objective is indeed an African nation will indeed win the World Cup. You have to believe, we have to believe.
“We have done great things in our lives which seemed to be difficult. We have to encourage every young boy and girl – it’s not just the men that we want to win the World Cup, I also want the women, the women can also win the World Cup.”
Motsepe further read out a statement in which he praised Morocco’s success even more.
“The 54 African countries who are members of CAF are extremely proud and inspired by the victories and successes of the five African Nations that represented CAF at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” he added.
“We are also particularly proud of Morocco’s historic qualification to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It is the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that an African Nation has qualified for the semi-finals.
” “I would like to express our deep gratitude to the players (of the Atlas Lions), the technical team, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football under the outstanding leadership of President Fouzi Lekjaa, the people of Morocco and His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him.
“Our objective of ensuring that an African Nation wins the FIFA World Cup is alive and within reach.”
