The Atlas Lions are the only non-Europeans or South Americans to be in the quarter-finals of this 2022 Football World Cup. On Tuesday, December 6, after penalties, Morocco eliminated arch-rivals Spain . From Tangier to Lagouira, from Essaouira to Marrakech and Rabat, Moroccans descended en masse to celebrate the qualification of the Lions, even the king paraded in his car through the streets of the capital.
With our correspondent in Casablanca, Victor Mauriat
The sovereign is not accustomed to walkabouts. Mohammed VI however joined the supporters during the evening. In a video posted on the internet, we see him aboard a large SUV type vehicle, dressed in a national team jersey, waving a flag at the window with a smile. “ Long live the king can we hear in these excerpts. At the same time, images of his son, Crown Prince Moulay el-Hassan, have also been posted on social networks.
ملك #المغرب محمد السادس يتجول في أحد شوارع المملكة مرتدياً قميص المنتخب المغربي ، ويشارك الشعب المغربي في الشا music #مونديال_قطر.
اللهم أدم علينا وعلى أمتنا كافة الأفراح والمسرات والإنجازات. pic.twitter.com/er0xwjC65C— عبد الصمد ناصر (@NacirAbdessamad) December 6, 2022
A timely victory for Morocco
So royal celebrations for a soccer game, it is a first in the history of Morocco, but they intervene in a context of economic and social crisis. Last Sunday, several thousand demonstrators gathered in Rabat to demand an end to the high cost of living, but also “ despotism and corruption “.
Clearly, the wave of national pride coming from Qatar is timely for the regime. In addition, internationally, as the last African and Arab country in the competition, Morocco is now supported by most African and Middle Eastern supporters.
►Also read: Press review Africa – Morocco in the quarter-finals of the World Cup