Quiz question: What do Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (63) and Iraqi militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr (48) have in common? Certainly not much. But they agree on one point: both men have come out as fans of the Morocco national football team. After the victory of the “Atlas Löwen” against the former colonial and current football power Spain, the Israeli Gantz congratulated “our Arab friends”. The Iraqi al-Sadr even saw new “hope for Arab victory” in the surprising football result.
From Cairo to Casablanca, from Yemen to the Gulf, people erupted in cheers. Eleven footballers from the North African kingdom have caused a positive stir across the Arab world (although 80 percent of Moroccans are Berbers). In the streets of the Palestinian city of Nablus, people are jokingly saying that global rejoicing over Morocco’s victory will end the conflict in the Middle East. And in Cairo, the tallest building in the city shines in the colors of Morocco.
They defend the dream of 1.5 billion people
The Kingdom of Morocco: independent from its former French and Spanish rulers since 1956, largely untouched by the Arab Spring, high on the tourist wish list of jet-setters. The relatively small North African country is currently enthralling the entire Arab world and uniting all of Africa behind it. As the last team from the Global South to survive the tournament, the defense specialists of the foot of the Atlas not only defended their goal area in today’s quarterfinal against Portugal (8pm), but also the dreams of more than one and a half billion people .
A huge burden – and a unique opportunity for the team, which currently has FIFA ranked 22nd in the world rankings.
“Sometimes dreams really do come true,” says Moroccan-born Said Ousaadane (37), who runs the Berber Food catering service in the municipality of Obfelden ZH with his wife. “Thinking about the next game brings tears to my eyes.” In his home country, the sensational victory made people forget all their problems for a while, he says on the phone. “Politics, the quarrel with the neighbours, that has all been pushed into the background. Every Arab, every African is now a bit Moroccan,” says Ousaadane.
What Morocco has learned from the football victory
That is exactly how Hassan Soufiani (57) experienced it. He recently returned to Marrakech after 30 years in Madrid. “This victory was a magical moment. Complete strangers kissed each other on the mouth in the street. Enemies became friends for a short time.” Pure satisfaction for his country, says Soufiani. “The footballers showed us Moroccans: if we really want to, we can do anything.”
Morocco’s football success was also a very special moment for Switzerland’s Nicole Billi, who runs the Hotel Riad Be Marrakech in Marrakech. “My third daughter was born during the football match. When I was in the recovery room, the hospital staff were still cheering in the break room.” Nicole Billi hopes that the sporting success will boost Morocco after the pandemic years. “It is good for the reputation of this beautiful place. And if people wonder what kind of country Morocco is because of the positive vibes, so much the better.”