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Jeremy WillisESPN.com
Morocco have become the Cinderella team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Atlas Lions have already defeated the mighty Spain, Portugal and Belgium in their run to the semi-finals of the tournament.
They are now the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final and despite Qatari authorities forcing the cancellation of flights from Morocco, Moroccan fans flocked to Al Khor, Qatar, for the match against France, the defending World Cup champions.
Remaining underdogs in the tournament, Morocco has become an adopted team for many fans – and football fans from other African nations have joined the Moroccan bandwagon. So much so that Morocco’s matches in Qatar have home ground advantage for the Atlas Lions.
Here’s a look at the scenes from the match.
Before the match, fans celebrated in Al Khor, where the match is being held, and in Doha’s Souq Waqif market, home to approximately 13,000 local Moroccans.
Souq Waqif in Doha is full of Moroccan fans. And what’s wonderful is that support is coming from across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as countless neutral countries heavily invested in Morocco’s tale. pic.twitter.com/bsLJjtAaQw
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 14, 2022
Uganda 🇺🇬 and Morocco 🇲🇦 unite in Qatar ❤️#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022onMG pic.twitter.com/DsTeeWOp54
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) December 14, 2022
🇲🇦 Morocco fans start celebrating early as they prepare for the match against France.
🎉 Watch the fans cheer at Souq Waqif before the match! pic.twitter.com/H3o5LGOz26
— Doha News (@dohanews) December 14, 2022
Morocco fans. my word! #Qatar2022onMG pic.twitter.com/V30dJtwpdx
— Yaw (@theyawofosu) December 14, 2022
ESPN’s Omar Flores Aldana reported that Morocco’s embassy in Qatar has made 5,000 tickets available to its nationals for the Round of 16 match against Spain. However, no such offer was made for the match against Portugal and Moroccan fans struggled to find tickets for the match. However, fans turned out in droves around Al Bait Stadium.
📍World Championship, semi-final #2
Morocco fans: many are already here, in numbers pic.twitter.com/L60TqoRdTX
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) December 14, 2022
🗣🇲🇦
The cheers of the Moroccan fans continued to fill the stadium during the first half pic.twitter.com/XWsUweyr3w
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 14, 2022
Mesut Ozil, the former Real Madrid and Arsenal star, also attended the match, cheering on Morocco.
I can’t wait for this great World Cup semi-final… 🇫🇷🏆🇲🇦 Let’s go Morocco… 🤲🏼🇲🇦❤️ #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/0CcxN2HH7g
— Mesut Ozil (@M10) December 14, 2022
