Qatar 2022... the good, the bad and ugly... and a few surprises from Africa
The Fifa 2022 World Cup reportedly cost north of $220-billion and is the most expensive World Cup ever held, but was it worth it? Sunday World reporter Tiyani wa ka Mabasa looks back on what will last long in the memory.
WILL BE BEST REMEMBERED FOR...
Moroccan mayhem
The North Africans surprised all and sundry by reaching the semifinals, becoming the first African team to do so in the history of the tournament.
Expect a few of Moroccans to make big moves. French President Emmanuel Macron shone the spotlight on Sofyan Amrabat, who plays for Fiorentina in Italy, when he visited their dressing room after the semifinal 2-0 defeat to France and told him he’d been “the best midfielder of the tournament”.
Everyone loves the underdog.
There were quite a few David versus Goliath situations. Cameroon became the first team from Africa to beat Brazil in the World Cup, but that was after Saudi Arabia, who are ranked 51, delivered one of the greatest upsets by beating third-place Argentina 2-1. The other notable upsets saw Japan register a 2-1 win over Germany, who exited in the group stage, and Tunisia beating France 1-0, but it wasn’t enough for the North Africans to go past the group stage.
Messi magic
While Kylian Mbappe has reached two World Cup finals at just age 23, Lionel Messi was unstoppable, and at 35, the world may have seen him for the last time on the world stage.
Behind every successful man...
For the first time in history, women referees officiated games at a major men’s tournament. Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda, France’s Stéphanie Frappart and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan became the first female referees to be appointed to a men’s World Cup.
THE LESS SAID, THE BETTER
Ronaldo’s pain
The past few months have been nothing to write home about for one of the greatest players ever. Before the tournament, the Portuguese star was dismissed by Manchester United after a tellall interview, and things didn’t get any better in Qatar. Portugal were knocked out in the round of 16 by Morocco, and Ronaldo was a bench warmer.
Injuries... and more injuries
The 2022 World Cup was robbed of witnessing some of the best players in the world right now. It’s not unusual for players to withdraw due to injuries, but the fact that Qatar 2022 came in the middle of the season (November-december) as opposed to June-july presented a big challenge as players kept withdrawing after suffering injuries while playing for their respective clubs. Senegal star Sadio Mane was one of those players, as was Ballon d’or winner Karim Benzema (France).
Ref goes home
The Spanish referee Mateu Lohaz was sent home after he brandished 15 yellow cards in the World Cup quarterfinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands, including two in the penalty shootout. To be fair, the 48 fouls were the most recorded ever in a World Cup match.
Eto’o’s crazy moment
Cameroonian FA president Samuel Eto’o made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. He had to apologise for a “violent altercation” with an Algerian supporter after the encounter between Brazil and South Korea on December 5.
Cameroon became the first African team to beat Brazil in the World Cup