To welcome home the Morocco World Cup team, their national football team, the first Arab/African team to ever make it to the World Cup semifinals, tens of thousands of Moroccans descended upon the country’s capital, Rabat, on Tuesday.
As they were taken from the airport and through center Rabat by dozens of police vehicles, including cars and motorbikes with bright lights and blaring sirens, the team and their coach Walid Regragui waved.
As fireworks erupted over the seaside capital, the crowd shouted and some others flashed flares, according to AFP correspondents.
“I’m really pleased with our group. Who knows, maybe they’ll take home the trophy the next time,” remarked Adam Najah, a 27-year-old waiter from Meknes.
He claimed to have driven more than 150 kilometers (90 miles) to “experience this historic day” and “celebrate the beautiful story of Morocco at the World Cup.”
Many supporters, clad in the team’s kits and waving red flags, had waited hours to see their heroes.
“I can’t describe my joy! They made us Moroccans, Arabs and Africans proud,” said Abdeljabbar Bouroua, 54, as the bus passed through central Rabat.
The Morocco World Cup team finished top of a group including Croatia and Belgium, who came third at the 2018 World Cup, before knocking out Spain and Portugal to reach the last four
The Atlas Lions lost Saturday’s third place play-off 2-1 against 2018 runners-up Croatia, but captured the imagination in Qatar.
“I would have liked to take them in my arms and kiss them,” said 19-year-old law student Leila Messour, who came to watch the team with her friends.
“They passed by quickly but we saw them – I haven’t been so happy for a long time.”
“They rapidly passed by, but we spotted them; I haven’t been this happy in a while.
Later, the crew traveled to the palace, where King Mohammed VI welcomed them “in celebration of the historic feat.”
The president of the Moroccan football association, the team coach, and the players all received accolades from the monarch and Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, according to the national news agency of the nation, MAP.
According to MAP, the mothers of the players were also invited to the palace in appreciation of their efforts to “instill in their children the ideals of patriotism, sacrifice, and national belonging.”
