TSWELOPELE MAKOE
Johannesburg - This week, Morocco suffered a devastating loss against France in the Semi final and Croatia in the third place play off at the Fifa World Cup currently under way in Qatar. Morocco, the first team in Africa to reach the semi-finals of a Fifa World Cup, suffered a 2-nil loss to the world defending champions. That was followed by nail biting 2-1 loss to the other 2018 finalist on Saturday.
The knock-out stage of the games have been built up over the past few weeks, most especially pressing on whether the North-African country would be true contenders as the competition grew. They truly have. The Moroccan team not only proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with, but they have also placed themselves in the gullies of history as formidable contenders in the global soccer arena.
In digital spaces, the loss for Morocco was met with a mixture of sorrow and gratification. The team has not only been steadfast in their confidence and morale, but they have also been persistent in their spirit and efforts towards their goal. They should be applauded for reaching such a formidable point in a ferocious international competition.
Reigning champions France will play against Argentina in the final game of the World Cup today (((taking place tonight on the 18th of December))). France and Argentina, with world-renowned players Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi respectively will have the anticipating eyes of the world upon them.
The Fifa World Cup as a global competition is not only dominated by first-world nations that have funnelled billions of dollars into the development of their players, but it also shows that the financial investment in the game of soccer is instrumental to its inclusive participation and prosperity globally. Sports teams on the continent of Africa, who notably do not have the financial power of the global north, have been privy to this inequity in bounds and leaps.
It is therefore a momentous occasion to have experienced an African nation compete at the top end of the World Cup. This has been immensely valuable not only for other African soccer teams in the pursuit of their challenges but shows the possibility of prosperity despite the unbalanced global playing field.
Furthermore, this is a tremendous moment for the children of Africa who may dread the limitations of the soccer infrastructure in their context. Morocco has truly shown that anything is possible for the people of Africa and the rest of the developing world.
Morocco’s success has recently caused debate about the authenticity of the country’s African identity, as they are also an Arab country that is predominantly Islamic. I find such discourse absolutely preposterous. Morocco is geographically situated in Africa, and will always be an African nation.
African Muslims are the legitimate identity of scores of people in the North-West African and Arabian Peninsula localities. To doubt the African identity of Morocco is not only to dismiss the history of a people but to undermine the autonomy of self-identification of Moroccan people all over the world. This point was underscored by Fifa president Gianni Infantino who scorned the Western media and critics of the Qatar World Cup, and poignantly pointed out the Western world and Europe’s failures regarding human rights transgressions.
At the root of this condemnation was the underscoring of the autonomous right of every nation to construct its own identities, and to live by its own rules. Yes, this has sparked an important discourse on Arab identities in Africa, but also shows how Euro-Western media seeks to undermine African people and detach Africa from associations with success.
It’s incredibly important that, at this time, African people all over the diaspora are steadfast in their fluid and nuanced identities. African countries share a tumultuous and complex history and are contemporarily constructed as a plethora of different nationalities, cultures, and religions.
The modern African context, especially in the sports arena, has not been without encounters of confrontation, but they remain part of a larger identity – an African identity. This is one of the things that makes Africa who she is. To try to contain Africa to a definition of a particular type of people is false and ignorant.
At worst, mischievous. There may be various types of countries and communities in Africa, but they remain part of a single African identity. In the same way, various European countries all belong to a single European identity.
Reaching the last four of the World Cup means that Morocco has gone further than any African nation in history. This is no small feat. They played against the defending champions and gave a good account of themselves. They have shown the world that Africa is on an upward trajectory.
The game of soccer is played in over 200 countries all over the world. This is an industry that has an immense global following and is influential on a worldwide scale. Scores of people of all ages and genders were seen in the Al Bayt stadium in Qatar, eagerly watching the Morocco-France match. This is not only starkly evident in the global influence of the game of soccer but shows its potential to capture numerous types of crowds from all over the world.
From young toddlers to ailing grandmothers, the game of soccer is not purely for entertainment, it is an emotional and significant moment in their lives. It shapes their lives in unknown ways, long after the games are concluded. It is therefore quite fulfilling and marvellous to have an African Arab country like Morocco representing our continent so proudly.
Although they will not return home with the physical Fifa trophy, they will be acclaimed as pioneers for all African teams. Moroccans are true champions of the tournament. They may not have won the competition, but they’ve won our hearts the world over.
* Tswelopele Makoe is an MA (Ethics) student at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at UWC. She is also a gender activist.