Because the solar rose above Morocco on Wednesday morning, the fun and ecstasy from the evening earlier than had barely settled.
It’s simply hours after the Moroccan soccer group had created historical past – a spot within the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Spain on Tuesday night in Doha.
It was an unprecedented feat for a facet that not many picked to be within the final eight.
In Doha, the followers sang, danced and celebrated into the early morning. And it was a sense not misplaced on Moroccans again house.
“What a terrific day to be a Moroccan,” Abdessamad informed Al Jazeera in Marrakesh. “My coronary heart sank each time we failed to attain from a possibility. As Spain missed their penalties, I forgot every part round me. Instantly, the loud roar round me made me realise we made it to the quarter-finals.
“Our group is on the highway to one thing extra magical, one thing larger, one thing insane.”
Within the capital, Rabat, cafes had been lined up with individuals keen to observe the match, roads had been packed and squares the place screenings had been going down had been stuffed with flags and Moroccans carrying group jerseys. A sense of hope and optimism prevailed.
The win gave them an excuse to rejoice all evening.
“It’s the primary time I had this sense,” Fahd Belbachir was quoted as saying by Reuters information company. “We’re so proud.”
It was a day the place historical past was made and Moroccans on the streets the morning after mentioned they may not be extra pleased with what the group had achieved.
Some had been even in disbelief, not absolutely in a position to comprehend that the dream was in truth actuality.
“We’re so pleased with our Lions, who fought laborious to get us into the quarter-finals,” Niama Meddoun, a Rabat resident, mentioned. “We’re delighted to be Moroccans at the moment, since we’re the primary Arab nation that has reached the quarter-finals.”
Movies circulating on-line confirmed the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, out celebrating with a Moroccan flag.
He praised the nationwide group “who gave their all and blazed a path all through this nice sporting occasion”. He added that the gamers represented the “hopes and goals of Moroccans in Morocco, Qatar, and all around the world”.
With solely eight out of the 32 groups left, Morocco is the one Arab and African nation within the match at this stage on the first World Cup being held within the Center East.
Morocco’s success on the match has reverberated throughout the Arab world and amongst Moroccan and another immigrant communities in Europe.
Ceuta is a Spanish exclave which borders Morocco on the North African coast. Its inhabitants is a mixture of Spaniards and Moroccan residents and staff. The Related Press reported that the win was additionally celebrated with automobiles honking horns there.
“What satisfaction, what happiness, now to rejoice with associates. I’ve misplaced my voice,” mentioned 20-year-old Ismael Mustafa. “We had been in a position to pull it off. For Spain? You’ll win subsequent time, so no worries.”
TV channels in Morocco devoted the information bulletins to pan to numerous celebrations going down throughout all cities and areas in Morocco.
The frequent denominator in all: euphoric supporters having fun with the joyous event. “Spain is gone, who’s subsequent” was a typical phrase shouted throughout the nation.
“The nationwide group doesn’t solely symbolize Moroccans, it symbolize Arabs and Africans from all around the world,” one fan informed Al Jazeera in Marrakesh. “Soccer has united all these nations beneath the Moroccan flag.”
Reporting by Khadija Satou in Marrakech and Faras Ghani in Doha