Morocco’s World Cup Success Fueled by Family Support and Parental Presence

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was right to bring the relatives of the members of the Moroccan team to Qatar and to offer them an all-inclusive stay at the Atlas Lions’ base camp located in the West Bay district of Doha. Along with the other supporters present at each match in the stadiums, they provide great moral and spiritual support for their children who are defending the Moroccan flag. A video widely shared on social networks shows the mother of Yassine Bounou, the Moroccan goalkeeper, praying for her son during the penalty shootout. Result: the players won a historic victory over Spain (0-0, p.s.o. 3-0) and thus obtained the first qualification of Morocco in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

After the match, the embrace between Saida Mouh and her son Achraf Hakimi, who scored the winning penalty, moved the supporters. "I melt in front of Hakimi and his mother, especially knowing their story," tweeted an Internet user. In a video, we see the Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri, moved, hugging and kissing his father. Fatima, the mother of coach Walid Regragui is also in Qatar. "I have been living in France for more than 50 years now and this is the first competition for which I have left Paris," Fatima told the Moroccan sports channel Arryadia. "[Walid] will make proud all those who watch him. Help him and he will help you. [...] "I raised him in such a way that he would reach [Islamic] excellence. [...] May God bring him, as well as all the others, ease and comfort," reports Middle East Eye.

Other moments of communion between the players and their friends and family have also followed the feat of the Atlas Lions. All things that lead Ayoub, a Moroccan living in London who participated in the big celebrations in the British capital on Tuesday, to believe that the massive support enjoyed by Morocco in Doha is an ingredient of the unprecedented success of the selection.

After their qualification, the Atlas Lions will face Portugal in the quarter-finals on Saturday, December 10 at Al Thumama Stadium.