Rabat – Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe has described Morocco’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup as a source of pride for African football.
Speaking during a press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Motsepe said Morocco’s achievement, together with the performances of other African teams, brought pride to people across the continent.
“Any national team earning the honour of competing at the World Cup, the highest stage in global football, is a source of pride for all of us,” Motsepe said.
He added that Morocco’s continued progress on the international stage would help strengthen respect and recognition for African football around the world.
The Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals of the tournament after advancing through the knockout stages before losing 2-0 to France.
Their campaign followed Morocco’s historic performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the team became the first African and Arab country to reach the semi-finals.
Motsepe also pointed to the broader progress made by African national teams during the 2026 tournament.
Nine African teams reached the round of 32, marking one of the continent’s strongest collective performances in World Cup history.
The CAF president said the continental governing body plans to hold an expanded meeting with national associations and football partners to discuss how Africa can maintain that progress.
The proposed talks will focus on future strategies aimed at improving football development, strengthening national teams and ensuring that African countries remain competitive at major international tournaments.
Motsepe said the performances in 2026 demonstrated that African football is continuing to grow and deserves greater recognition on the global stage.
