On Tuesday night, Moroccan flocked to Doha’s Souq Waqif. match.
Morocco is the only African team left in the competition after Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia, and Senegal withdrew.
When Hadji Badr’s son Mohammed Badr grows up, he will proudly tell him the stories of heroes. On Tuesday, he would strain his vocal chords as he told the stories of Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, and Hakim Ziyech, whom he rooted for at Doha’s Education City Stadium.
Hadji, a Moroccan who has lived in Doha for the last 15 years, witnessed history being made as Morocco defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties in a World Cup last 16 match.
His son Mohammed was also present, but at only two months old, he had no idea what was going on. “He is most likely the stadium’s youngest Moroccan.” He has no idea what he has witnessed. “I will tell him about this day when he grows up,” father Hadji said on the Metro from Education City Stadium to Msheireb in downtown Doha.
Mohammed’s elder sister Khansa, named after the poet regarded as the greatest author of Arabic elegies, is only four years old. She, too, appeared to be unaware of Moroccan accomplishments. She was wearing a Hakimi shirt and jumping on the seat to demonstrate her numerical abilities to her uncle.
A group of Moroccan fans were dancing and singing down the rake. In that group, there was a Saudi who supported the North African team. “They have brought honour to the Arab world.”
Morocco is the only African team left in the competition after Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia, and Senegal withdrew.
The fans have descended in droves. Even seasoned campaigners get nervous when they hear their whistles and claps. The Belgians learned the hard way during their 0-2 group-stage loss. And on Tuesday, during the tiebreak, they frightened Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler, and Sergio Busquets by turning up the volume.
“Our fans are our driving force. “I’d like to thank the fans who assisted us in this task,” Moroccan star goalkeeper Bounou said at the post-match press conference. “They are, indeed, the ones who keep us going. “We have a lot of support,” Sevilla goalkeeper Walid Regragui agreed with his coach.
Moroccans were partying like there was no tomorrow at the Souq Waqif, the main market place.
A woman wearing a Palestinian scarf and draped in the Moroccan flag was enjoying the atmosphere. “Very happy,” she said, her English shaky.
As you made your way through the crowd, you came across an elderly lady standing with her son and daughter-in-law.
Zahara, who was probably in her 60s, had travelled from Casablanca to watch the game on Tuesday. She needed a stick to stand after having a knee replacement. But that didn’t stop her from celebrating the historic occasion.
Qatar is also generously assisting the Moroccans. According to media reports from Morocco’s capital Rabat, Qatar’s Emir Tamim Ben Hamad al-Thani offered free tickets to the Spain game.
“There will be a huge rush for the game against Portugal,” a fan said, fidgeting with his phone. He was looking on Instagram to see how his fans back home were celebrating.
