It was an ocean of red and green as thousands took to the streets of Doha Saturday and the party continued till late in the night following Morocco's remarkable victory over Portugal to enter the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
This is the first time an Arab or African team has made it to the last four of the tournament, and that it has happened in the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world makes it even sweeter.
Morocco defeated Portugal 1-0 in a quarter-final clash at Al Thumama Stadium Saturday, in a match that will be remembered for a long time. The Moroccans had already set the bar high and raised the hopes of the entire Arab world and the African continent, thanks to their sterling performances against formidable teams such as Belgium, Croatia and Spain. Now, they have added Portugal to the list of famous victories.
The atmosphere at the stadium was electric, and it felt like a home game for the Atlas Lions as Moroccan supporters turned up in large numbers to cheer on their team.
As the final whistle was blown, the arena resonated with the sound of a thunderous applause - a recognition of what Walid Regragui’s team has achieved.
And long after that, the celebrations continued.
The Moroccan flag, along with those of Qatar, Palestine and other Arab countries, was seen flying high across the city. From the streets of Doha to metro stations and from Souq Waqif to Msheireb Downtown Doha, chants of ‘Long Live Morocco' could be heard everywhere.
The Atlas Lions made history while becoming the first African team to advance to the semifinals of a World Cup with a 1-0 win over Portugal.
Souq Waqif turned to be the central point of gathering while fans thronged to the alleys from Msheireb Down Town and Souq Waqif and Msheireb Metro Stations.
“Our victory is history. We should celebrate the historic moment. And we are here,” Morocco fan Mostapha told Gulf Times. “ All roads lead to Souq now. And the entire world is watching us,” he said.
The fans praised the players and noted that the team’s performance is improving day by day. “We are glad that the team members keep their spirits up while working hard for our country and the Arab world. And Walid Regragui is doing his job amazingly while guiding the team to the next round,” said Suhaib Ouni noting that the credit of the achievements goes to the players and the staff equally. “Everyone is doing his bit with dedication and passion. And we will make it to the final while beat our next opponent,” he said.
Another fan, Othman noted that the fans were upset while Walid Cheddira earned a red card while the match entered injury time. “We made it possible despite some unexpected backlashes. Cheddira’s exit isn't going to affect the team’s in the next round. We got good replacements,” he said.