Opinion – Tayguara Ribeiro: A historic Cup for Africa

Morocco achieved the most relevant result ever obtained by an African team in the dispute of a World Cup. Despite the defeat to France, in the semifinal of the tournament, this Wednesday (14). And it is encouraging to note that this has occurred precisely in the first competition in which all African countries were managed by coaches from the continent.

The arduous defense by a European coach in the direction of the national teams does not only happen in Brazil. There, however, comes from decades. A movement carried out for years, which inspired many of the famous clichés that wrap a region with 54 countries in a single basket.

The conquest obtained by the team commanded by Walid Regragui (Morocco) already makes this World Cup historic. Get this far. Eliminate Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

The size of the feat increases when added to the presence of coaches Aliou Cissé (Senegal), Jalel Kadri (Tunisia), Otto Addo (Ghana) and Rigobert Song (Cameroon).

Far from saying that from now on African football will become a power capable of facing Europe and South America, continents that reign in the world of football. Not the case, of course. We are talking about symbolism.

The thing is simple. It’s not just football. It is not possible, in my opinion, to analyze the development of sport in the region without taking into account geopolitical, military, social issues and European colonization. I don’t mean centuries ago. It’s recent. Some countries only achieved autonomy in the 1970s. That was yesterday.

Why is this relevant to football?

The African teams began to participate in the World Cup of soccer in the tournament disputed in 1934, with Egypt. Then there was a hiatus. They returned to the competition only in 1970, precisely against Morocco.

In part, the large number of World Cups without the presence of teams from Africa is a result of the political and social conditions on the continent. In part, football’s lack of interest in the region.

The complexity of these developments lacks details that are not pertinent here. But they created a large diaspora. Heading to Europe.

The movement that has been growing in recent decades has drawn talent from all areas of African countries, not just football. Running away from war. From hunger. Changing the demographics of the outgoing and incoming countries. Also changing football demographics.

Communities form in European countries. And they have been met with reticence. There are no generalizations, of course. But it is in the news how much the presence of immigrants has become a matter of first order, even influencing elections.

Political parties were formed or grew with speeches on the subject.

Football was impacted by this, too. It is not difficult to see that the changes that already existed are accelerating.

In a slight look back we have an example. We see Eusébio, regarded as one of the greatest players in the Portugal national team of all time. He was born in Mozambique.

Cut to the 2022 World Cup. In powerful France, there are 14 naturalized players or the result of the first generation of the diaspora.

Mandanda is Congolese. Camavinga was born in Angola. Dembélé is the son of a Senegalese woman. The father of the star player Mbappé is from Cameroon.

Breel Embolo is Cameroonian. Played in the Cup for Switzerland. Scored a goal against Cameroon.

There are many other examples.

This is not about delegitimizing anyone’s nationality. It’s not about that. This is fair. It is a reflection on how we see football. Perhaps African players have influenced football played in Europe more with their talent than European coaches have influenced football in Africa.

The symbolism of these results in a historic Cup for Africa also involves deconstructing the idea of ​​”having no responsibility” or “they are just physical strength”.

Anyway, a team of Africans is in the final.