Moroccans from across the country and beyond flocked to Rabat to welcome the Atlas Lions

Moroccans coming from across the country and from abroad flocked to Rabat this Tuesday to welcome the Atlas Lions upon their return home after their mesmerizing participation in the Qatar 2022 World cup. The fans started gathering along the itinerary to be taken by the team hours before the team’s plane landed at Rabat-Sale airport. They all came to express to their heroes their enthusiasm, happiness and pride at their historic and unprecedented journey at the World Cup, held for the first time in an Arab and Islamic country.

Young and old, women and men, children and even babies in their mothers’ lap, thousands lined up the itinerary, to welcome the Atlas Lions, who have become national heroes after their historic feat in Qatar, where they succeeded, for the first time in the history of Morocco, Africa and the Arab world, to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

The Atlas Lions’ feat sparked a wave of sympathy across the world, breaking geographical or ethnic boundaries, with scenes of popular support after every game, hailing the players, donning their jersey and waving the Moroccan flags in Cairo and Abu Dhabi, in Tel Aviv and Gaza, in Paris, Brussels, Berlin or London, in Dakar, Niamey, Libreville or Bamako, in New York, Washington, or Montreal.

The first African, Arab and Muslim country to reach a World Cup semi-final, Morocco now proudly carries the hopes of the Maghreb, Africa and the Arab-Muslim world. By breaking a psychological barrier in Qatar World Cup, the Atlas Lions allow these countries to dream of being part of the great football nations in the world in the future.

The exceptional performance of the Atlas Lions has propelled the Moroccan selection as well as the Moroccan fans and the entire kingdom on the international scene.

This great popular celebration and majestic welcome reserved to the Moroccan, North African, African and Arab champions will highlight by a function at the Royal palace, where king Mohammed VI will receive the players, their mothers, and the technical and medical staff that all endeavored to offer Morocco joy and make it proud of its sons.