The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the teams emerged from the tunnel and onto the pitch, the crowd's roar deafening as the match between Morocco and Portugal in the Football World Cup began. Fans of both sides had made the journey from around the globe, wearing their team’s colours and chanting their songs.

That day, Morocco beat Portugal and became the first African nation to make it to the World Cup’s semi-finals. Before this achievement, African teams had reached and lost the quarter-finals three times: Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.

Breaking new ground, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, led by Coach Walid Regragui, inspire African football. They signal that one day an African country will win the world cup, as legendary player Pelé foretold decades ago.

Morocco’s performance at the world cup is part of a more significant trend. In 2018, the Atlas Lions won the African Championship of Nations. In addition, the Atlas Lionesses reached the finals in 2022’s Africa Cup of Nations. That same year Moroccan clubs Wydad Athletic and AS FAR won the CAF Champions League and Female CAF Champions League, respectively.

Morocco's unprecedented run did not occur by happenstance. Instead, it resulted from significant investments, a well-defined strategy, and expert execution. Indeed, football development in Morocco is based on a tripartite approach that should form the foundation of every system's development: facilities, talent, and qualified personnel.

Significant investments in football started in 2007 when work on the King Mohammed VI Football Academy began. The $16.8 million complex of eight pitches and a climate-controlled indoor pitch has constituted a breeding ground for Moroccan talent. Graduates of the academy playing in the national team include Youssef En-Nesyri, Azzedine Ounahi, and Nayef Akrad.

Other notable investments were announced in 2014 when four Moroccan Ministers revealed a three-year plan that involved spending 135 million Euros on developing regional training centres and creating four new soccer academies. In addition, the fund was used to renovate stadiums and improve grass fields across the country.

The Moroccan government’s commitment to football is now paying off, with the beneficiaries of the new facilities realizing one remarkable feat after the other.

Besides home-grown talent, many of the Atlas Lions also reign from Europe’s Moroccan Diaspora. For example, the Dutch-born players Ziyech and Mazraoui decided to come out for Morocco this world cup. Securing foreign-born players to the Atlas Lions can be attributed to the team’s excellent management.

Both Ziyech and Mazraoui refused to play under Morocco’s previous coach Halilhodzic. According to the players, the former coach’s disrespectful attitude towards them made them quit the national team. Only after the Bosnian coach was let go and the Moroccan Walid Regragui was appointed as his successor did Ziyech, and Mazraoui rejoined the Atlas Lions.

Regragui has been vital to the Atlas Lions’ success. Him winning the loyalty of Ziyech and Mazraoui, soon after his appointment is a testament to his leadership. Moreover, Regragui, born in France, managed to end the team’s internal conflict between Moroccan-born players and those from the wider Diaspora, thereby forming an united front.

Becoming coach only three months before the start of the world cup, Regragui recognized the importance of the team’s excellent defence and used a defensive strategy focused on counterattacking with great success.

In 2022, Regragui not only placed third in the World’s Best National Coach ranking but also reached the podium with third place in the World’s Best Club Coach competition. This was the first time a coach placed top three in two categories in the same year.

Other African countries seeking to emulate Morocco’s success in this world cup should recognize the importance of having skilled and unifying leadership.

Men like Regragui, who bring the talents of African Diasporas aboard and add them to the strengths of home-grown players, are crucial. In addition, coaches capable of cultivating an inclusive team spirit will be invaluable assets for future African teams aiming to take a shot at winning the world cup.