The World Cup ended with the coronation of Lionel Messi’s Argentina, ahead of the 2018 World Champions, after a month of competition in Qatar. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, the five African teams that participated in the final phase were all led by local coaches. Morocco by Walid Regragui, Senegal by Aliou Cissé, Cameroon by Rigobert Song, Ghana by Otto Addo and Tunisia by Jalel Kadri.
Walid Regragui, the architect
At the head of the Moroccan national team for only four months, Walid Regragui led the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they lost to a very strategic French team (2-0). It is the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. When Regragui took over the reins of the Moroccan national team, no one expected the Atlas Lions to reach the prestigious Final Four of the World Cup.
The men of the native of Corbeil-Essonnes finished at the top of their group with seven points before Croatia and Belgium. By beating Spain (0-0 tab 3-0) and Portugal (1-0) in the round of 16 and quarter-finals, Walid and his players proved to be formidable. Even if France put an end to the dreams of an entire continent to see an African team on the roof of the world, Les Bleus still suffered to snatch their qualification for the final. In the small final against Croatia, Regragui, very disappointed by the defeat against France, could not put together the ideal combination to win the third place of the World Cup. Morocco has four wins, one draw and two defeats in this World Cup.
Aliou Cissé, lost bet of an African Champion
The reigning African Champions went to the World Cup hoping to create a new feat, but without their leader, Sadio Mané, injured in the knee a few days earlier. With their defeat against the Netherlands (0-2), the Senegalese coach, Aliou Cissé, and his men did not succeed in their entry into the World Cup 2022. After this catastrophic match, the Lions of Teranga have clearly changed their face, beating Qatar (3-1) and Ecuador (2-1). These two victories allowed Senegal to finish second in its group and reach the round of 16.
After two consecutive victories in the group stage, the Lions played a round of 16 largely dominated by their opponents, the Threes Lions of England. For this match, the men of Aliou Cissé lost many duels and were badly handled by the English. This match ended with a clear victory of England, in front of a too feverish Senegalese team (0-3). In the end, Senegal played four games in this world (two wins and two losses).
Rigobert Song, unfulfilled promises
A few days before the major tournament, Rigobert Song, who took over the reins of the Cameroon national team after the 2021 World Cup, guaranteed the Cameroonian people to win the golden trophy at the 2022 World Cup. Unfortunately for him, the journey of the Indomitable Lions was short and catastrophic with a draw, a defeat and a victory on the last day of the group stage. The only thing that consoled Rigobert Song, after the premature elimination of Cameroon, is their victory over Brazil (1-0).
Song parted ways with his goalkeeper, Andre Onana, a few hours before their face-off with Serbia (3-3), because of an alleged disciplinary problem. The absence of the Inter Milan goalkeeper did not help the Indomitable Lions, who were eliminated after only three matches.
Otto Addo, the great disappointment
With the national team of Ghana, Otto Addo did not have a good World Cup. With a lot of clumsiness in their defense system, the Black Stars finished last with 3 points, in a group composed of Portugal of Cristiano Ronaldo, South Korea of Heung-min Song and Uruguay of Luis Suarez.
The Ghanaians lost to Portugal (2-3) in a very close match. Then, they won against South Korea (3-2), before being laminated by Uruguay in the last day of the group stage (2-0). The day after this sad elimination of the Black Stars, their interim coach, Otto Addo, announced his resignation.
Jalel Kadri, the regret after three matches
If the announced objective was to make a good show and to give themselves the means to believe in the exploit, Jalel Kadri’s men were not very threatening during the three games of their group phase. They drew against Denmark (0-0), followed by an unfortunate defeat against Australia (0-1), before finishing with a memorable victory against the defending world champions Les Bleus (1-0), thanks to a great Wahbi Khazri. The Eagles of Carthage left the 2022 World Cup with a taste of unfinished business, following their majestic performance against the 2018 world champions.
