From Doha to Dar es Salaam and from Casablanca to London, Morocco’s World Cup run has captured the imagination and sparked euphoric celebrations.
The Atlas Lions’ campaign has galvanised not only a nation and a continent, but masses of people bound by shared beliefs.
Their moments have been moments for Africa, for the Arab world, for the Muslim population and beyond.
Morocco fans will be out in force across London when they play in the World Cup semi-final
The country became Africa’s first ever World Cup semi-finalists by beating Portugal last week
‘We feel so proud to be Moroccan,’ says Abdeslam Aarab, who runs a Moroccan cafe in west London. ‘All the community has united. For a moment, forget the cold and the difficulties. Still our people will come together to support Morocco. There is no obstacle that stops us because this love comes from the heart. This is what the Ummah (community) is all about.
‘If one celebrates, then the rest celebrate. If one is upset, then we are all upset. We feel together. You see the support for Morocco all over the world. It’s beautiful.’
On Wednesday evening, in sub-zero temperatures in London, they will congregate again to watch the first African or Arab country play in a World Cup semi-final. There will be Moroccans, of course. But just as in the parts of Doha that have become more like Marrakech to support Walid Regragui’s side, the Ghanaians, Algerians, Lebanese will gather, too. For Morocco’s campaign represents joy and relatability for a wider community connected by their collective values, be it mannerisms, language, clothing or their way of life.
Now they are set to take on reigning world champions France in the last four of the tournament
London’s streets will turn into pockets of Casablanca as Morocco bid for their biggest scalp yet
Their run to the semi-finals has represented joy and relatability for a wider community
Millions watching around the globe on Wednesday night understand what this Morocco side stands for. Their prayers reflect the all-consuming role of religion in the Arab world.
Seeing the mothers of Achraf Hakimi, Sofiane Boufal and Regragui in traditional clothing, embracing their sons, may be a regular occurrence within family homes, but that visibility before a global audience of billions was something else altogether.
‘Politically and on a popular level as well, there’s been an outpouring of support and people have found happiness in that,’ says Maher Mezahi, an Algerian football journalist.
‘They’ve almost rediscovered the notion of Arab unity that you could say had been lost.’
Before the World Cup, Regragui’s mother had never left Paris, let alone France. Regragui, a former Morocco right back, takes on the country of his birth tonight for a place in the World Cup final with a squad of whom 14 were born outside Morocco.
Only four of Morocco’s starting XI against Portugal in the quarter-final were born in the country.
This squad’s story is one of people who left home for opportunity and faced identity difficulties
This squad’s story is one of people who have left home for opportunity and thus faced challenges about their identity. ‘Today, we have shown that every Moroccan is Moroccan,’ said Regragui after his side had beaten Spain in the round of 16.
‘When he comes to the national team he wants to die, he wants to fight. As the coach, I was born in France, but nobody can have my heart for my country.’
Morocco’s journey also represents something larger than the game — it celebrates culture and heritage at a time when immigrants around the world perhaps struggle to do that.
The success of the Atlas Lions has transcended physical borders. Such is the nature of their global support that, in Doha, it has occasionally felt like Morocco, not Qatar, is hosting this World Cup.
And though England may be out, the streets of London and cities across the country will turn into pockets of Casablanca and Rabat on Wednesday night. That is not to disregard English society and the experiences it has provided. Rather, it is a means for immigrant communities to express an authentic and integral part of their identity through the power of football.
If they prevail against France on Wednesday, there will be mass celebrations across the globe
‘These moments are great, but we’re here to change the mentality,’ said goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, known as Bono, after the win over Portugal. ‘This feeling of inferiority, we have to get rid of it. The generation coming after us will know we can create miracles.’
Mezahi adds: ‘Listen to them speak. Not just Morocco but the rest of the African nations. We’ve had players reach the zenith of world football over the past few decades. We don’t have that inferiority complex any more. And that’s really a recent shift in mentality.’
Perhaps dismantling that inferiority complex is the over-riding story of Morocco’s fairytale run, regardless of Wednesday’s result against France, and arguably why their underdog journey matters to so many around the world.