Morocco have become the toast of world leaders, outstanding personalities and citizens from several countries across the globe after their historic feat, where the team reached the semi finals of the 2022 World Cup, the first for an African nation and Arab world as well since the inception of the tournament in 1930.
Recall that the Atlas Lions defeated Portugal 1-0 in the quarter finals against all odds to book a date with France in the semis.
Immediately after the final whistle of the referee, King Mohammed VI started receiving phone calls from several heads of state who congratulated him on the Moroccan team’s historic qualification.
King Mohammed VI thus received telephone calls from the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba; the President of France, Emmanuel Macron; the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al -Thani; King Abdallah II of Jordan; the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani; the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al Nahyane.
The calling Heads of State expressed their warm congratulations to King Mohammed VI following this historic achievement which made Morocco the first African and Arab country to reach the semi-finals of a football World Cup.
Other Heads of State took to tweeter to congratulate Morocco and the King for this “incredible achievement” as described by the President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guellah.
This victory of the Atlas Lions is “a source of inspiration for all Arab and African countries,” tweeted the Djboutian Head of State.
“Congratulations to Morocco for reaching the World Cup semi-finals! This is an incredible achievement for the Moroccan team and an inspiration for all Arab and African countries,” wrote President Ismail Omar Guellah.
For the President of Chad, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the qualification of the Atlas Lions for the semi-finals is “historic and extraordinary.”
“The qualification of the Atlas Lions for the semi-finals of the World Cup 2022 is that of all Africa,” wrote the Chadian President in a tweet.
He expressed his “full support to the representatives of Africa for the grand final”. “Africa champion of the world, yes! It is possible inshallah,” added President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
President of Senegal and chairman of the African Union, Macky Sall, said in a congratulation twit “this victory will remain engraved in history. “History! And Fantastic! The Atlas Lions have qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup! Bravo Morocco, » he twitted.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog joined the growing list of leaders, celebrating Morocco’s win against Portugal, describing the win as “a historic achievement.”
“I congratulate His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people for the historic achievement in the World Cup…Congratulations!” Herzog said on Twitter.
Several Israeli officials joined their president to congratulate Morocco, including Minister of Regional cooperation Issawi Frej.
“We thought for a moment that we have reached the climax, but the Moroccan national team proved today that there are no limits to what is possible in a team that cannot be broken,” Issawi Frej said.
Frej also expressed his joy at the fact that popular jubilation spontaneously expressed itself in the streets of Israel, bringing together Arabs and Jews. “Thank you to the Moroccan national team. We are with you until the Cup is lifted,” he added.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, joined world leaders to congratulate Morocco after the epic qualification.
“I wholeheartedly congratulate the Moroccan national team, the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. I also congratulate all Moroccans for this feat,” tweeted President Erdogan, a few minutes after the end of the match between Walid Regragui’s men and Portugal players.
From Washington, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, congratulated Morocco following the qualification of the national football team for the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, stressing that Africa is making history.
“On the eve of the USA-Africa Leaders Summit 2022 (scheduled for next week in Washington), I congratulate the Atlas Lions on their win today”, becoming the first African and Arab team to ever reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, wrote the US top diplomat on his Twitter account, accompanying his post with the flag of Morocco.
Africa is making history on and off the field, he stated.
U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Puneet Talwar also hailed Morocco’s victory as an “incredible win”.
“Another incredible win for #AtlasLions! Morocco is making history! Seer, seer, seer Maghrib to #WorldCup final. Mabrouk 🇲🇦⚽️” ,” the US diplomat tweeted using the encouraging word in Arabic seer, seer, seer which means go on, go on, coined by Walid Regragui, the first African coach to lead an African team to the quarter-finals of a World Cup.
The Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoumn was also among the first to congratulate the Atlas Lions for their historic qualification.
“No voice is louder than the voice of Morocco in the World Cup 🇲🇦.. Congratulations to all Arabs for realizing the Arab dream at the hands of the lions of Morocco..”, Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.
The Atlas Lions’ qualification is “an immense joy and pride offered to Africa,” tweeted on his part the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat who expressed congratulations to King Mohammed VI.
“Morocco, what an immense joy and pride offered to Africa. To His Majesty Mohammed VI, the Moroccan people and the Atlas Lions, our warmest congratulations for this great African achievement unique in its kind. Go ahead, the cup is within reach!”, wrote Moussa Faki Mahamat in a tweet.
The American billionaire and boss of the social network Twitter, Elon Musk, also congratulated Morocco for the historic qualification in Qatar.
“Congrats Morocco!” Musk wrote on his Twitter account, accompanying his post with the Kingdom’s flag.
The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, expressed on Saturday the wish to see the selections of Morocco and Argentina in the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“About soccer. It would be cool to have a final without enemy countries. Argentina-Morocco,” wrote the former Russian president on his Telegram channel, the equivalent of WhatsApp, reports the news outlet le360.
The Representative of the European Union in Morocco Patricia Llombart posted a tweet saying « Olé olé olé 💃💃💃💃💃. History is being written! Great Morocco! With Moroccans, we are proud of these Atlas Lions 🦁” “The legend continues! Sir, sir, sir #DimaMagrib, » she added.
The Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said the Moroccan national football team wrote a new page in the history of Arab football, while the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hussein Ibrahim Taha, congratulated the Moroccan national soccer team for the historic achievement, praising their “heroic performance” and wishing them more victories in the next rounds of the tournament.
FIFA posted on its page after Morocco’s win “history was made… A miraculous road to FIFAworld cup semi-finals.”
The Atlas Lions “fought every inch of the field” to maintain their “precious advantage” following En-Nesyri’s goal, FIFA noted, adding that the result is “simply historic”.
After 3 first unsuccessful attempts by Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010, “Africa has finally conquered its demons” thanks to the exploit of Morocco, notes FIFA, highlighting the solidity of the Moroccan defense who has not conceded any goal from an opposing player in this tournament, except that of Nayef Aguerd, scored against his camp in the group stage against Canada (2-1).
International soccer players and artists joined their names to the long list of congratulatory messages, like German international of Turkish origin, Mesut Ozil, who expressed his pride in the Moroccan team and congratulated Morocco, the African continent and the Muslim world for this achievement.
“Proud. What a team! What an achievement for the African continent and the Muslim world. It’s great to see that such a fairy tale is still possible in modern football. It will give so many people so much power and hope,” he wrote.
Lebanese singer Georges Wassouf also congratulated Morocco and the Atlas Lions on tweeter by posting very nice photos of Soufiane Boufal and his mother and of the joy of the Lions on the field after the match.
“Morocco writes history. Congratulation. When the players kiss their mothers before celebrating victory, know that the destiny of this team is to succeed with the prayers of all Arabs,” Georges Wassouf commented.
Gad El Maleh, the renowned Moroccan humorist, shared on Instagram a picture of Walid Regragui, with the caption: “Historical!!!!!! And it’s not over! How proud!!!!! Tears of joy ❤️🇲🇦❤️🇲🇦❤️ We’ll be with you until the end #dimaghrib. Cheer @equipedumaroc @lionsdelatlas @walid.regragui #dimaghrib.
Colombian singer Shakira also wanted to congratulate the Moroccan selection for their achievement.
“This is time for Africa,” she tweeted, accompanying her message with applause and the flag of Morocco.
following the victory of the Atlas Lions over Portugal and their qualification for the semi-finals of the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
Immediately after the victory of the Atlas Lions over Portugal 1-0 and their qualification for the semi-finals of the Qatar-2022 World Cup, Morocco’s fans poured onto the streets throughout Morocco and in several other countries in Africa (Mauritania, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ethiopia, Gabon, Niger, Somalia, Ghana, Guinea, Tunisia…), Europe (France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland…), the Middle East (Palestine, the UAE, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen,…) as well as in the United States and Canada to celebrate the historic win making the Arab World and Africa proud.
The millions of fans, including thousands of Arabs, Africans, and Israelis joined in the celebration of Morocco’s national team’s historic win.
Hoisting the Moroccan flags, portraits of King Mohammed VI, and pictures of the Moroccan players, sang and danced following the historic feat made in Qatar as they see Morocco edging closer to the World Cup trophy, turning dream into reality.
Morocco started the World Cup tournament with a goalless draw against Croatia before defeating Belgium (2-0) and Canada (2-1) to take the lead of Group F. In their fourth match, they knocked out Spain on penalties (3-0) in and now they ousted Portugal sending their fans in dreamland.
By leading the Atlas Lions to the semi- finals of the Qatari World Cup, Walid Regragui, labelled in Morocco the Minister of Happiness, has written a new page in the history of national, African and Arab football and he is now in search of a new historic feat.
1 Comment
A good child. Two man are now claiming to be his father! You can bring home the cup.
Let’s hope for Morocco vs Croatia. Africa GO!!!!