JAKARTA - Morocco residents gathered in Casablanca and a number of other places on Saturday evening December 10, celebrating the success of their national football team which made history at the World Cup.
There are also celebrations in the Arab world and in Europe after Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in Qatar to become the first African or Arab team to reach the World Cup semifinals.
"A great team, extraordinary stamina, extraordinary achievement," El Ilham Idrissi, a 34-year-old Casablanca woman, told AFP, as reported by Antara.
He did not alone praise the team nicknamed the Atlas Lion who will face defending champions France for a place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup final.
"I thought I was dreaming.bit me! It's a great pride. I thank them from the bottom of my heart," said Mouad Khairat, 29, an executive at a call center.
"The Morocco team has managed to do the impossible. We want the trophy now."
Collective celebrations once the final whistle of the match becomes a habit throughout the kingdom.
Morocco topped the group stage standings, beat Canada and Belgium and then eliminated Spain on penalties in the last 16 before beating Portugal.
"Nothing is impossible in football, that's the miracle of this sport", former Morocco international Abderrazak Khairi told AFP.
Khairi scored twice in a surprise 3-1 win over the same opponent, Portugal, at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Morocco became the first African country to reach the knockout stages.
No African or Arab countries managed to surpass the quarter-finals. Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010 almost reached the top four of the most prestigious tournaments.
"The Morocco team has succeeded in doing the impossible. We want trophies now," said Ali Gyme, 24.
In Casablanca, Morocco's "coordinary" football, people in national teams and red flags with green stars, were seen everywhere in windows, kiosks, markets.
The giant wall painting shows Chelsea striker Hakim Ziyech and coach Walid Reragui, who have been equated as national heroes.
ragui took over the team less than three months before the competition began after Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked.
Beyond the royal border, the success of the Morocco team was also welcomed on the African continent and the Arab world. After the victory over Spain, broadcaster Al Jazeera mentioned the "euphoria wave" throughout the Arab world.
"The makings can be heard from Tunis, Beirut, Bagdad, Ramallah and other cities as Arabs gather to celebrate an unexpected victory over Spain - in contrast to political differences that have long divided Arab countries," the Qatar TV site said.
On Saturday, in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Gaza, Palestinians celebrated it with fireworks, cheers, and horns.
On the streets of Morocco, football fans waved the Palestinian flag beside their own flag.
In Algeria, despite tensions with Morocco's neighboring countries, the football site DZfoot praised the Atlas Lion team.
"Heroik, sensational. Congratulations, congratulations," he said.
In Paris, Morocco fans gathered in Champs Elysees, where France celebrated their World Cup victory, and exploded with joy as the final whistle sounded.
"This is a great pride for all Arab countries, for all Africa," said Maamar, 27, who waved the Morocco flag but admitted he was originally Algerian.
"Whatever happens, we've been in the four best teams in the world."
Dounia, 23, a resident of French-Maroko descent, said qualifying for the semifinals was "great".
"Today is also my birthday, I can't get a better gift."
Raising the flags of Morocco, Algeria, Syria and Palestine as well as singing in Arabic, happy football fans mingled with tourists who packed the iconic path of the French capital on the winter night.
Fans also gathered in Brussels, where 18 people were arrested in an incident after Morocco beat Canada in the group stage.
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