'Greatest tournament Africa has ever experienced' - Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh

Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh has said that the 2022 FIFA World Cup is the best tournament Africa has ever experienced. Morocco became the first-ever African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

Speaking ahead of Morocco’s semi-final clash against defending champions France, Oliseh called this the greatest tournament for his continent.

“This is the greatest tournament my continent has ever experienced, not only because we are experiencing for the first time an African and an Arab nation in the semi-finals. But because every African team that came here won one game at least,” said Oliseh.

He went on to say that African players have made the UEFA Champions League what it is.

“Look, we've had great players play in the European League. In fact, we are the ones and the South Americans and Europeans, we are the ones that have made soccer in the Champions League what it is: the variety, the beauty that comes with it, you know, and now the Arab world has joined in, which is also great,” Oliseh added.

The Nigerian coach stressed the importance of further diversity in coaching and football, for the game to progress.

“You know, these are people that makes football beautiful, the diversity. For it to get even more beautiful, there has to be diversity in coaching. There has to be diversity in culture. Definitely diversity and how we see football,” said Oliseh.

Morocco topped Group F, finishing ahead of Belgium, Croatia and Canada, to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They then overcame 2010 champions Spain in the round of 16 stage, beating them 3-0 in a penalty shootout. The Atlas Lions then knocked out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarter-finals, beating them 1-0.

Interestingly, Morocco has not conceded a goal from an opposition player in this World Cup, with the only goal against them coming through an own goal from Nayef Aguerd.