Morocco’s nationwide soccer group is about to return house Tuesday after carrying out the seemingly not possible feat of ending fourth on the World Cup in Qatar. Tens of hundreds of Moroccans have been anticipated to end up to greet the gamers.
As the primary African or Arab group to succeed in the World Cup semifinals, the Moroccan group, often known as the Atlas Lions, made historical past and was one of many massive success tales of this yr’s match, the primary hosted by an Arab nation.
Huge crowds have been within the streets of the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and the remainder of the North African kingdom for the homecoming. After the group beat former European colonial powers Belgium, Spain and Portugal, it misplaced to France within the semifinals. Its record-setting efficiency means the gamers are more likely to obtain a hero’s welcome.
“Morocco’s run within the 2022 FIFA World Cup can be remembered within the historical past books as one of the vital thrilling campaigns for the reason that match’s inception,” café proprietor Reda Ghazi, 27, advised The Related Press. “It was the dream of each Moroccan to win one thing, particularly as a result of Morocco is a rustic the place the fervour for soccer is overwhelming.”
After their aircraft touches down, the gamers are set to experience an open-top bus via the key avenues of the capital. The royal court docket mentioned Monday that King Mohammed VI would obtain the group on the palace in Rabat “to rejoice their nice and historic accomplishment.”
Morocco completed fourth within the competitors after shedding to Croatia 1-2 within the third-place play-off on Saturday, exceeding the expectations of most Moroccans.
“I nonetheless can’t wrap my head round what occurred on this World Cup,” added pupil Anour El Berkaoui, 23. “The group has now set the bar so excessive that we gained’t be pleased with something lower than profitable the upcoming African Cup of Nations.”
The Moroccan group charmed many Arab soccer followers who noticed within the group a mirrored image of themselves. Gamers waved the Palestinian flag after their wins and celebrated on the sphere with their moms and youngsters.
The group additionally galvanized assist throughout Africa.
“As an African group, we broke numerous information and made the entire continent proud,” Rabat resident Omar Zorgane mentioned .
“Morocco as an entire will achieve quite a bit from this yr’s World Cup, from tourism to getting the eye of different nations to presumably internet hosting one of many largest tournaments on this planet sooner or later,” he mentioned.