‘Impossible’ done, some fans now dream of title

Casablanca – As their national team made history, crowds gathered in Casablanca on Saturday evening and chanted “Qualified! Qualified!”

There were also celebrations across the Arab world and in Europe, after Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in Qatar to become the first African or Arab team to reach a World Cup semi-final.

“My heart will stop, what a team, what stamina, what an achievement,” said Ilham El Idrissi, a 34-year-old Casablanca woman.

She was not alone in hailing the team known as the Atlas Lions, who will face holders France for a place in the final.

“I think I am dreaming awake. Pinch me! What a huge pride. I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” said Mouad Khairat, 29, an executive in a call centre.

“The Moroccan team have managed to do the impossible. We want the Cup now.”

The collective celebrations that greeted the final whistle are becoming a habit across the kingdom. Morocco topped their group, beating Canada and Belgium and then eliminated Spain on penalties in the round of 16 before overcoming Portugal.

“There is no such thing as impossible in soccer, that’s the magic of this sport”, said former Moroccan international Abderrazak Khairi, who scored twice in the surprise 3-1 victory over Portugal in the 1986 World Cup, when Morocco became the first African nation to reach the knockout rounds.

No African or Arab country had managed to go beyond the quarter-finals. Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 came closest to reaching the final four of football’s most prestigious tournament.

“The Moroccan team has managed to do the impossible. We want the Cup now,” said Ali Gyme, 24.

In Casablanca, the temple of Moroccan football, the shirts of the national team and the red flags with the green star, are everywhere in the windows, the stalls and the markets.

Giant frescoes have appeared showing Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech and coach Walid Regragui, who has been elevated to the rank of national hero.

Regragui took over the team less than three months before the start of the competition after Vahid Halilhodzic was fired.

Beyond the borders of the kingdom, the Moroccan team have been cheered in the African continent, the Arab world and social media.

After the victory over Spain, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported: “Cheers rang out from Tunis, Beirut, Baghdad, Ramallah and other cities as Arabs gathered to rejoice... a contrast to the political differences that have long divided Arab nations.”

On Saturday, in East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza, Palestinians celebrated with fireworks, cheers and horns.

Political leaders, sports stars and celebrities also took to social media to congratulate Morocco. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted congratulations to “the Atlas lions on their win today”.

Pop star Shakira tweeted “This time for Africa!!” with a clapping emoji and a Moroccan flag. Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted: “Congrats Morocco.”

In Paris, around 20,000 people headed to the Champs Elysees, where French and Moroccan supporters celebrated together, many of them with torn loyalties.

“It is a great pride for all Arab countries, for all Africa,” said Maamar, 27, who waved a Moroccan flag but said he was of Algerian origin. “Whatever happens we are in the four best teams in the world.”

Dounia, a 23-year-old French-Moroccan, said qualification for the semi-finals was simply “great”. “Today is also my birthday, I couldn’t have had a better present.”

However, the celebrations soured later on, after police were targeted with fireworks and other projectiles. Seventy-four people were arrested and police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Reuters TV footage showed people smashing signs and fights with police. Some fires could also be seen on Avenue de Friedland close to the Champs Elysees.

With France going on to beat England later in the evening, Paris officials said they had deployed “1,220 policemen and gendarmes”. AFP, REUTERS