World Cup 2022 Qatar: Milla’s dance, the scoring minister, Buffon’s ‘African’ son, the eighth goal for the dogs and the ship that did not arrive in Uruguay

The Moroccan team makes history in the World Cups after overcoming the quarterfinals for the first time, the last African football frontier reached by Cameroon in Italy 90, Senegal in Korea-Japan 2002 and Ghana in 2010

In Africa, as until recently in Spain, it fell in quarters. That was the last frontier of the Cameroon of the roger milla in Italy 90, from Senegal’s Diop y El Hadji Diouf in Korea-Japan 2002, and from Ghana in Essien y Asamoah in South Africa 2010. All have just been surpassed by what is already the Morocco of Achraf Hakimi, Bonus and En-Nesyri. Almost a century of World Cups to reach the semifinals for the moment, qualifying first in the group, and to which powers such as Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal were unable to score a single goal.

Thirteen African nations have participated in the World Cup. Cameroon with seven and Senegal with six are the ones with the most presences. Morocco has taken five to go down in history. Egypt was the first African nation to do so, in 1930, and that he didn’t even show up. They were simply the only African team to accept the invitation. But they had to embark in Marseille on the SS Florida together with the Yugoslavia team, and bad weather prevented them from reaching France. They asked to delay their debut but the organization saw it as impossible.

He had to wait four years to go down in history. Again. Led by Scotsman James McRae, they set sail for Italy a month before the start of the championship. They played a game against Hungary, they lost, and they came back. It took 36 years, until the World Cup in Mexico in 1970, for an African to play again. And eight more years to see them win a game. It was in Argentina 1978, when the Tunisian team beat Mexico. The Eagles of Cartago began losing 0-1 and came back to 3-1. Although perhaps his greatest achievement was later to draw 0-0 against Federal Germany, which had been defending the title. Tarak Dhiab, of 23, he was the star. They ended up naming him Minister of Sports, and a few hours ago he was commenting on the Morocco-Portugal match for BeinSports.

The fact that so far no African team has not even reached the semi-finals does not mean that no African-born player has even won the championship. It is the case of the Libyan Gentile for Italy, and from the Ghanas Desaillythe Congolese Mandandafrom Senegal Patrick Vieira and from cameroons Samuel Umtiti for France. And even that they ended the tournament winning the Golden Boot, as is the case of the Moroccan Just Fontainealso for France, and with a record of 13 goals in Sweden 58 still to beat.

The news about the Arab and African teams at the World Cups was that they had witches on their roster and, from time to time, they gave surprises. The Argentina-Arabia Saudi of Qatar had its first version with an Algeria-Germany in Spain 82. And the worst thing was not that the Germans arrived with one of the best teams in their history: Breitner, Rummenigge, Schumacher, Littbarski, Stielike, Matthus. It is that one of them before the game occurred to say: “We will dedicate our seventh goal to our wives and the eighth to our dogs.” At the end 2-1 for Algeria, with the Valencian Rabah Madjer scoring the winning goal.

It may be that Germany won the World Cup in Italy in 1990 but it will still be the World Cup in Cameroon and Roger Milla, a 38-year-old backup veteran who had to be convinced to come. His dances after goal in the corner flag moving his hips are already the history of football and Africa. The Indomitable Lions became the first to reach the quarterfinals, and of course they had their surprise game, at least until their ability was known, when they beat the defending champions 1-0. Maradona’s Argentinain the opening match, with a goal, of course, from Milla.

Last month the Cameroonian was seen at A Madroa, where Celta de Vigo trains, because his son Germain plays there. Cameroon also continues to have a very rare record. The one of the only team that remains group champion with a negative goal difference.

Their repercussion in this World Cup was such that it can be said that they changed the history, or at least the history of Italy and of Gigi Buffonwho was 12 years old at the time and played as a midfielder, until he saw the Cameroonian Louis Thomas N’Kono and his adoration made him a porter, and Louis Thomas the name of his eldest son.

Milla returned to Cameroon in 1994 to break another record that has yet to be broken, that of the largest age difference between teammates. The 24 that she had between her 42 and 17 Song. That was the World Cup in Nigeria. The Amunike, Amokachi, Yekini and Finidi they would end up eliminated in the round of 16 during extra time against Italy. It was also his World Cup in France 98, adding to his squad Kanu, Babangida and Okochaunfortunately for Spain, whom they defeated in the group stage with an unforgettable goal against Zubizarretaalthough they fell again in the second round.

It seems that the African teams randomly take turns to appear as a surprise at the World Cups. In Korea-Japan it was Senegal’s turn, a more than unexpected fact since they started the African qualifying round as 79th in the World, behind Thailand, Cuba or Haiti. They started the World Cup, of course, giving the bell in the opening match against the champion, France. And following the same line, they became the second African team in history to reach the quarterfinals.

It seemed that South Africa 2010 was going to be the time for Africa, but neither. Even Mbobo Zevovo, head witch for many South African players, said that the World Cup was won by an American team, but he didn’t know if it was from the north or the south. Again they fall into quarters. This time with the Ghana of Asamoah, the top African scorer in World Cups, with six goals in eleven games. They fell against Uruguay in the penalty shootout. And they took their revenge this year by knocking them out in the group stage.