World Cup 2022: Moroccans celebrate historic win against Portugal
Exuberant Moroccans poured into the streets of the capital Rabat on Saturday, and could be seen cheering, crying, dancing and singing as they celebrated their team's historic victory over Portugal at the Qatar World Cup.
Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 and knocked Cristiano Ronaldo out of the tournament, making the Atlas Lions the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to this year's semi-finals.
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The Atlas Lions struck in the 42nd minute via a Youssef En-Nesyri header and were able to hold on to their lead despite a late red card to Walid Cheddira.
The capital, Rabat, was bursting with joy after the final whistle had blown with fans lighting flares and singing songs as their team reached the last four.
"We made Cristiano Ronaldo cry. I can't stop smiling," Imane Chekayri, a 25-year-old architect in Rabat, told Middle East Eye.
The victory has Morocco fans full of confidence for the days ahead. The team will face France in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
"We weren't expecting it initially, but it was a historic win for Moroccans specifically and Africans in general," Moncef Daray, a 27-year-old English teacher, told MEE.
Morocco's phenomenal run also reverberated across Africa on Saturday. "Continental history!" the Confederation of African Football wrote on Twitter after Morocco's victory.
"Historic and fantastic," African Union chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall wrote in a tweet.
Morocco's performances have touched Palestinians since the players and many of their supporters expressed solidarity on and off the field with their plight during the World Cup.
Palestinian flags have featured regularly among Morocco's supporters and some of the players unfurled Palestinian flags on the field after they defeated Spain in the quarter-finals.
"We're a believing people. We prayed for this win, we expected it, and we deserve it," said Fatima Zahra Harimi, a social assistant in a Rabat hospital.
"God willing, we’ll win the next match too. This is a victory for Moroccans, Muslims, Arabs, and Africans."
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