Celebratory Welcome Worthy of Heroes

Morocco’s football team returned today from Qatar after a widely acclaimed performance at the 2022 World Cup, which won them pride and admiration at the homeland and around the world.
Crowds lined the main streets of the capital. Many are coming from remote areas and travelled overnight to attend the historic event. Others chose to spend the night at the entrance of the Sale-Rabat airport to make sure they do not miss a fraction of a second of the plane’s landing.
Hundreds of fans flanked the principal avenues to greet the football squad which was the only Arab and African team to ever reach the semifinals of the World Cup.
Moroccans were eagerly awaiting the Atlas Lions’ arrival. Once the red open top bus appeared, scenes of jubilation broke out. Road traffic stopped and celebrations started in the streets that were decorated the night before with national flags.
Rabat police services had to deploy over 8,000 policemen and law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of all.
The long-awaited bus toured major arteries as Hassan II Avenue, November 16 Square, Shellah Square, Mohammed V Avenue, Moulay El Hassan Avenue and the legendary Bab As Sufara before reaching the Royal Palace.
Fans were clothed in red, jamming the streets, waving flags, lighting fireworks and holding smoke bombs, turning Rabat into a red foggy city.
Sir… Sir… Sir, which means go in Darija, was the most heard phrase during the celebratory reception, in addition to ululations, clapping and cheering.
The Atlas Lions were received, along with their mothers, at the royal palace by King Mohammed VI who awarded them Alawite wissams in recognition of their spectacular performance.
The players’ mothers played a pivotal role in this World Cup, by lending their sons moral support and strength. Their presence symbolized the solidity of the Moroccan family unit and was the driving force behind the many accomplishments made in the tournament.