Qatar 2022: Morocco Criticised by South African Politicians Despite World Cup Success

• Morocco put on the greatest performance by an African team in FIFA World Cup history
• The Atlas Lions' success was with mixed reactions in the sub-Saharan African diaspora
• The country's controversial relationship with the Western Sahara has proven to be thorny

Politics is never far behind sports.

This is a fact of life, none more apparent than Morocco's sensational 2022 FIFA World Cup success in Qatar.

While the Arab and Muslim world has been unanimously behind the Atlas Lions, the rest of sub-Saharan Africa has been polarised in its support for the North Africans.

For instance, prominent South African politicians have not been particularly warm towards Morocco regarding its conflict with Western Sahara, as well as testy side-shows within CAF involving South Africa and the kingdom, as per TimesLIVE.

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ANC chairperson and current Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe said of the dispute in 2019:

“I would have expected that from Morocco because they have resources. They are exploiting even the Western Sahara resources. They are using them to buy support and they are succeeding on the continent."

Refusing to acknowledge the nation's success in Qatar, Economic Freedom Fighters MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said:

“Africa must reject Morocco until they end their occupation of Western Sahara. I refuse to celebrate. Free Western Sahara.”

His party colleague and fellow firebrand, Floyd Shivambu went the conspiratorial route, questioning Morocco being allegedly awarded CAF events regularly.

He tweeted:

“The 'coincidence' of the Kingdom of Morocco hosting 1) the negotiations for a Caf president, 2) the Caf congress, 3) two successive Caf Champions League finals and 4) Moroccan football cubs winning the 2022 Caf Confederations and Champions League cups is worrying. Is it capture?”

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Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa backed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara, as per EWN. This did not go down well in the higher echelons of the Moroccan government.

Buhari, Biden watch WC semis

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been spotted alongside US President Joe Biden and other world leaders, watching Morocco versus France at the 2022 World Cup.

Buhari is currently in the United States of America, where he has been having meetings with other world leaders in Washington, as per Sports Brief.

The 79-year-old was accompanied to the US by Governor Abdulrahman of Kwara State, and they watched the World Cup semi-final together on television.