The World Cup with Moroccan Eyes

Now that the world cup has ended with France as winner, it’s time to watch how Moroccans reacted to its events from what I’ve seen on the streets and what I heard from people and what was trending on social media.

Everything started after the referee whistle at the end of the game of Morocco against Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan declaring that Morocco is one of the 5 nations representing Africa in the World Cup. A draw would have been enough for the Moroccan national team, but they players went to Côte d’Ivoire with one goal in mind: win the game and prove that they deserve their ticket to Russia. Just after the game the streets in all Moroccan cities were filled with people celebration this win by chanting songs. Morocco didn’t sleep that night. Moroccan people waited for this achievement for 20 years since Morocco didn’t put a foot in the World Cup since 1998 in France. It was even more special for me and my generation since I was born in 1999 and never seen such accomplishment.

After few weeks the draw of the group stage come. This event made us rethink our chances of doing a good achievement in this World Cup. Morocco got in a very difficult group along with 2010 World Cup winner Spain and 2016 Europe Champions Portugal and of course Iran. The Moroccan people were split between two groups, the hopeful ones who thought that it is possible to get to the second round and started their predictions built on winning the first game against Iran and win or at least draw against Portugal and draw against Spain, and the ones who said it is impossible to pass in a group like that.

The months that followed showed just how Moroccans are passioned about football by the huge number of World Cup tickets purchased. And people started planning their journey to Russia.

But the relation between Moroccans and the World Cup is far from just Russia 2018. Moroccans had their eyes on winning the honor of hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup. And again, the streets were divided, some people were for hosting the big event and profiting from the benefits coming from that, while others thought that Morocco isn’t capable yet for something as big as that, and looking at their competition, Morocco doesn’t stand a chance against the trio formed by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Months went by and the World Cup is getting closer and closer and Moroccans have eyes on 2 World Cups. There was a big conflict between the Moroccan Football Federation a FIFA concerning certain points since FIFA still could Morocco’s temptation to host 2026 World Cup. Yet Morocco managed to arrive to the voting stage where it lost by a large number of votes for the American trio few hours before the official start of the World Cup. The way this loss came had a big impact on all the population since some countries that are considered as allies like Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations voted against Moroccan bid and some big rivals as Algeria voted for it.

The day after that, Russia World Cup officially started with one game opposing the hosting country against Saudi Arabia. All Moroccans that day were cheering for the Russians after the incident of the day before. And since Russia won by 5 to 0 the Moroccans were really happy, you could feel happiness in the atmosphere. On internet Moroccans and the entire world practically, everyone was mocking the Saudis for their very weak performance on the opening game.

The next day is the day morocco plays it’s first match of the tournament against Iran. The was the easiest match on paper for both teams. And that day coincided with the Muslim holyday of the end of Ramadan. Every family in the country was gathered watching the game either at their houses or at coffee shops. During the game Moroccan players controlled the ball all the time but they were lacking efficiency. Moroccan people got worried after one key player in the team who’s Nordine Amrabt got concussion during the game. Yet, the big upset came when Morocco conceived an own goal at the last minute. The whole country is upset now.

Most Moroccans this year rooted for the underdogs and the other Arab and African nations. But neither of the 4 Arab countries could win or draw at their first matches. 

Then time for the second game come, this time we are facing Portugal with their Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo who scored a hattrick in his first match against Spain didn’t wait so much to score his 4^th goal of the tournament by a header at the 4^th minute of the game. However, and just like the first game Moroccans controlled the ball during the entire game but they couldn’t get to the goal of Portugal’s goalkeeper. Meanwhile the players showed a big level of world class football and combativeness. They were warriors on the field. But one raised above all of them and he is the one who suffered from concussion in the first game Nordine Amrabt. This one player was everywhere on the pitch and it is no surprise that he is viewed as one of the best players in this World Cup edition. The time the anger in people’s eyes was through ward the referee who didn’t use VAR technology to give two very clear penalties to Morocco. After losing this game, Morocco is officially out of the tournament and they still have to play only one game that will bring the nothing really significant.

The last game come putting Hervé Renard and his guys against Spain. This time, knowing that there is no real outcome from this game, the players played for their dignity.  And surprisingly in this game Morocco got its first and only point after a draw by 2 goals in each side. Morocco was first to score when Boutaib took the opportunity from a misunderstanding between Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos. Not so long after that Spain scored the equalizer by Isco after a great work from Iniesta. The first half ended by 1 to 1. In the second half not much ha changed, Spain is still controlling the ball while Moroccan players are defending and using counter strikes and stopped balls to create danger. As the game was close to its end, and from a beautiful header by Ennseyri after a corner, Morocco took the lead again. But in the additional time Spain forced the draw from a corner too. Again, Moroccan supporters blamed the referee for his serious mistakes that caused us the game. And since these mistakes were too frequent, the hate went directly to the organizing body of the event. For Moroccan, FIFA is to be blamed for the disqualification of their team from group stage.

After this, we kept an eyes on the rest of the World Cup but with less enthusiasm. And as said earlier Moroccans favored the underdogs.

At the end, Moroccan supporters kind of got used to disappointments but it is the first time for me to witness them not blaming the players or the coach. This World Cup united us and made us know that the enemies we are facing are outside and not within.