Amadou Onana has revealed just how much the atmosphere created by Moroccan supporters left a lasting impression on him during the clash between Belgium and Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in a recent YouTube video with content creator JustRiadh, the midfielder did not hide his admiration for the energy inside the stadium that day.
“That day, I thought I was in Rabat or Casablanca. It was amazing. It made me a little fall in love with the passion of Moroccans and Africans in general,” he said.
The match, played on November 27 2022, became one of the defining moments of the tournament. Morocco secured a famous 2-0 upset victory thanks to goals from Romain Saiss (73′) and Zakaria Aboukhlal (90’+2). That result played a major role in Belgium’s early exit from the group stage.
🗣️ 𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗨 𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗔 🇧🇪 parle de l’ambiance des supporters marocains 🇲🇦 pendant la Coupe du Monde 2022. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7Ba9CtMucj
— Lion Times 🇲🇦 (@LionTimes_) March 21, 2026
‘I saw red… but not our red’
Onana recalled being stunned by the overwhelming presence of Moroccan fans in the stands, with the scene feeling more like a home game for Morocco than a neutral World Cup fixture.
“It was crazy. I swear, I saw red. 95%, maybe even 97% of the stadium was red, but the wrong red, not our red, Moroccan red!”
The intensity of that support struck him. He admitted that the atmosphere gave him chills on the pitch and even described it as a kind of “coup de foudre,” saying he had fallen “a little in love” with the passion of Moroccan and African fans in general.
Despite Belgium’s defeat, Onana showed respect for his opponents. He acknowledged Morocco’s team spirit and historic journey to the semi-finals, adding that if there was one team to lose to, he would not have chosen anyone else.
Now playing for Aston Villa in the Premier League, the Dakar-born Belgian international continues to grow as one of Europe’s most promising midfielders. But his experience against Morocco remains one of the most unforgettable moments of his career.
Almost four years later, his words are another reminder of the indelible mark Morocco and the Moroccan fans left during the 2022 World Cup.
