Rabat – People across Morocco have only football on their mind as the country prepares for what could be another historic afternoon of World Cup football. The remarkable unbeaten cup run that brought the Atlas Lions to this stage appears to have filled Moroccans with confidence despite facing off with one of Europe’s top teams.
From supermarkets to pharmacies and doctor’s offices, Moroccans across the nation are filled with anxious excitement ahead of their team’s afternoon match against a reinvigorated Portugal. Hours ahead of the match cafes started to fill with excited fans, with their hopes and dreams of a successful outcome on full display.
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Earlier victories over top-ranked teams including Belgium and Spain appear to have given most Moroccans the confidence that Portugal too can be defeated. The Atlas Lions’ stellar performances against semi-finalist Croatia, star-studded Belgium, a youthful Canada, and a once revered Spanish team have further bolstered the self-belief among Moroccans young and old.
Morocco’s success at this year’s World Cup has been visible across Europe and North America with diaspora members and their friends celebrating each victory at iconic landmarks such as London’s Trafalgar Square, the Champs-Elysee in Paris, and New York’s Times Square. That excitement is shared by people across the Middle-East and Africa, with Morocco being hailed as the symbolic representative of both regions at the World Cup in Qatar.
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Morocco’s World Cup run has seen the team face off with historical rivals from the Iberian peninsula, a remarkable trend that could continue if both Morocco and France win their matches today, leading to a semi-final between the two countries.
As the clock ticks away the hours and minutes ahead of Morocco’s historic quarter final match, the nervous excitement palpable on the streets of Morocco are sure to burst into unprecedented celebrations if the country manages to defeat the in-form Portuguese.
