After becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup, much of the world’s attention was turned to viral photos of Moroccan players celebrating their historic victories with their mothers. Although several clips of the players greeting their families after Morocco’s victory against Portugal went viral, the most widely shared among them was of Sofiane Boufal dancing with his mother on the pitch with Moroccan fans cheering around them. While most commentators and social media reactions have said that the heartwarming scenes reinforced the value of family bonds, and the role that parents play in their childrens’ success, these images also reflect the sacrifices many families have to make due to economic constraints, particularly in the developing world, to reach this level of international success. Sports are often not considered a priority in developing countries, and as a result, investment in sport infrastructure and skill acquisition is far more limited. Poverty emerges as an influential constraint, and a lower income family may not be able to provide access to appropriate facilities nor provide adequate support. This is why the families of athletes hailing originally from…
