King, Moroccans give hero’s welcome to triumphal Atlas Lions
The Atlas Lions made their triumphal return in Rabat where tens of thousands of jubilant Moroccans lined to greet the players after their memorable run in Qatar World Cup.
The red open bus carrying the national squad was met with thousands of flag waving, singing and dancing Moroccans from Sale to the Royal palace in Rabat.
Images and footage by national and international media showed scenes of the bus crossing the streets of Sale and the breath-taking view of the bridge on the Bouregreg river where one of the tallest buildings in Africa and the continent’s largest theatre could be seen.
The success of the national football team and its competitiveness is reflective of a national development effort that can also be seen in infrastructure and institutional reforms.
Such images along with the accurate organization and the discipline of Moroccan fans and their passion for football sent a message of a united, organized and proud people led by a forward-looking monarch.
At the Palace, another emotional moment that embodies the strong bond between a king and his people took place as the players were decorated by a Royal distinctions offered by the King before posing for a photo with them and their mothers.
The jubilation in Rabat’s streets and the joy to welcome the national team is an expression of Moroccans’ love for their homeland.
On social media, Argentinians angry at the lack of proper preparation to host their World Cup winning team draw parallels and expressed admiration for the heroes welcome dedicated to the Atlas Lions.
Images by news agencies showed the euphoric moment when the bus reached Rabat’s city centre in Mohammed V avenue where red flames were lit to welcome the Atlas Lions.
“This is an incredible popular welcome. It helps players realize the ambitions of the people,” said national coach Walid Regragui.
“We are proud of being received by HM King Mohammed VI and I would like to thank him for what he has done for us and for the Moroccan people,” he said.
Morocco has broken many records during the Qatar World Cup becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals after stunning better ranking European teams such as Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
