By: Roberta Gayode Modin
Morocco made history as the first African country to qualify for a semi-final stage with their victory against Portugal on Saturday, December 11, 2022 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. This victory has however been met with many controversies, especially in the media space.
To some, it was a historical win for the Arab community and others also attributed it to the massive support received across the African continent. In some cases, it was also seen as a combination of both positions.
However, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ghana, Her Excellency, Imane Ouaadil has cleared the air on which side Morocco belongs, stating that Morocco is an African country.
“Our first language in Morocco is Arabic but first of all, we are Africans. This is where we belong and this is our continent and we have this feeling. So we don’t say we are Arabs. We say we are Africans” she clarified.
Her Excellency, Imane Ouaadil also added that despite the diversities in Moroccan identity, “the African component is very strong”.
She commended African countries and the Arab community for rooting for the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the FIFA World Cup and called for unity across the continent.
“We need unity at this time and age because it is important for the development of the african continent”.
