The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has gone down as Africa’s best ever tournament since the continent made its first ever appearance in the global soccer showpiece with Egypt in Italy in 1934.
Africa showed the world that football on the continent has really come of age as all the five representatives put up decent performances.
Times Sport takes a look at six key things which makes Qatar 2022 Africa’s best World Cup tournament ever.
Three African teams beat former World Cup winners France, Brazil and Spain
African teams really came to the party in Qatar. Previously, Cameroon had stunned defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the Italy 1990 World Cup while Senegal also shocked France 1-0 on May 31, 2002 in the Japan/South Korea edition.
The Qatar World Cup saw three African teams defeating three former winners which is a great piece of history. Tunisia beat France by a lone goal, Cameroon defeated five times world champions Brazil 1-0 and Morocco also beat 2010 winners Spain 3-0 on penalties.
Two African teams reached the Round of 16 for the second time in the competitions history
In the history of the World Cup, this was the second time two countries from Africa made it to the second round of the competition. The first was in Brazil 2014 when Nigeria and Algeria made it past the Group stage. They were all knocked out in the round of 16.
Morocco and Senegal made it to the second round of the 2022 World Cup with the Atlas Lions moving two steps further from there.
An African team tops a World Cup group for first time in 24 years
Morocco topped Group F which involved Croatia, Belgium and Canada by amassing seven points. They drew goalless with Croatia, beat Belgium 2-0 and defeated Canada 2-1.
The Atlas Lions equaled their own record from Mexico 1986 World Cup where they won a group involving Portugal, England and West Germany.
All African teams which went to Qatar at least won one game
Unlike some previous World Cup tournaments where African teams failed to win even a single game, the standard was raised in Qatar as each of the team’s won at least one game.
Ghana beat South Korea 3-2, Tunisia defeated France 1-0, Morocco beat Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal. Cameroon became the first African country to beat Brazil at the World Cup whereas Senegal also defeated Qatar and Ecuador.
An African team qualified for the semis in World Cup’s history
Before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Africa’s only pride in the history of the World Cup was quarter final berth secured by Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana in 1990, 2002 and 2010 respectively. Morocco has broken that record and set a new one by being the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals.
African team goes unbeaten in World Cup Group stage since 1982
Morocco became the second African country to go through the Group stage of the World Cup unbeaten. The first was Cameroon in Spain 1982 where they drew with Italy, Poland and Peru. The Indomitable Lions failed to progress to the second round with just three points.
Contrary to what Cameroon did, Morocco had seven points from going unbeaten in the group stage in Qatar and they topped Group F ahead of Croatia, Belgium and Canada.