'This Time For Africa': Shakira Tweets 2010 FIFA World Cup Anthem To Hail Historic Morocco Win

Qatar 2022: Morocco created history on Saturday as they became the first African team ever to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup.

Morocco's forward #19 Youssef En-Nesyri (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match against Portugal at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on December 10, 2022. (Left) Columbian singer Shakira. ( Image Source :AFP and Getty )

MAR Vs POR: Morocco Saturday became the first ever African team to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup as they defeated Portugal 1-0. The Atlas Lions created history for African football. In the nine decades of the showpiece tournament, three African teams have played quarterfinals before Morocco but none qualified for the semifinals. Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are the three African sides who reached the quarterfinals in 1990, 2002 and 2010, respectively.

The moment of history had many taking to social media to shower praise on Morocco for the feat. Among them was Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira. "This time for Africa," she wrote on Twitter, posting a line from the 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem she had sung when the edition was hosted by South Africa.

This time for Africa!! 👏🇲🇦 #WorldCup

— Shakira (@shakira) December 10, 2022

The song, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", or "Waka Waka (Esto es África)" in Spanish, featured the South African band Freshlyground. The song that draws inspiration from the original Cameroon song "Zamina mina (Zangaléwa)", was released on May 7, 2010, by Epic Records as the official 2010 FIFA World Cup song. This has been one of the catchiest World Cup anthems till date. 

Shakira was not the only celebrity who took to social media to congratulate Morocco, which made World Cup history earlier also as the first African team to earn a point in 1970, and the first African team to reach the knockouts in 1986.

Billionnaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Google CEO Sundar Pichai were among the others who posted their reactions on Twitter.

🇲🇦🇲🇦 Congrats Morocco!! 🇲🇦🇲🇦

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2022

Watching the scenes in Marrakech (one of the most beautiful cities that I have been to) is amazing. Historic moment - first African country to make it to the semis - Congrats Morocco!

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 10, 2022

Proud 🤲🏼 What a team! 🇲🇦❤️ What an achievement for the African continent & the Muslim world 🤲🏼 Great to see such a fairytale is still possible in modern football - this will give so many people so much power & hope ❤️❤️⚽ #Morocco #WorldCup #Qatar2022

— Mesut Özil (@M10) December 10, 2022

There’s nothing sweeter than seeing a mother happy. Even if she’s nt yours 🥺🫶. #Morocco pic.twitter.com/plg2GKoNbw

— القرآن (@Quranconnect_) December 10, 2022

Let’s give it up one more time for #Morocco, Sofiane Boufal and his mother.

I’ve always believed this is the time for Africa!#WorldCup2022 #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup #Portugal pic.twitter.com/hdMUQJXBIV

— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) December 10, 2022

No opposition player has managed to score against Morocco 🇲🇦 since Walid Regragui took charge on August 31.

Morocco 2-0 Chile
Paraguay 0-0 Morocco
Morocco 3-0 Georgia
Morocco 0-0 Croatia
Belgium 0-2 Morocco
Canada 1-2 Morocco (own goal)
Morocco 0-0 Spain
Morocco 1-0 Portugal pic.twitter.com/y5qW8gFYzp

— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) December 10, 2022