Atlas Lions get Arab world and beyond to rally behind them

As the World Cup advances towards its climax, there has been a constant exodus of fans from countries which have already been eliminated. The metros are not as busy as they used to be even a couple of days ago, with some heavyweights and fan-favourite teams like Brazil and Portugal biting the dust.

One of the four that have stood the test of skill and character so far are Morocco – the only Arab and African country to reach the semi-finals in the history of the World Cup. The Moroccans have defied all odds, exceeded all expectations and continued to slay giants, one after another.

With the team far exceeding expectations and instilling belief among their fans that they can go all the way, there has been a scramble for flights to Doha from Rabat over the last few days. Some of the Moroccans had been here since the beginning of the World Cup, but a large number of them have descended on this land over the last few days as the Atlas Lions -- whose previous best record was a Round of 16 appearance way back in 1986 -- stunned favourites like Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to the final four.

Aliya Abdelkarim, a woman in her thirties from Rabat, was revelling with a group of fans at Downtown Doha after watching her team beat Portugal at the Al Thumama Stadium a couple of hours earlier. There were a few hundred Moroccan fans who gathered there, many wearing shirts with the names of Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou and others on the back, some draped in the Moroccan flag.

"Exceptionally proud and happy. It's an exceptional and historic moment, not only for Morocco but for the Arab region and Africa. It's such an honour representing all of these countries in this World Cup," Aliya said when asked about her feelings.

Indeed, Morocco have the fractious Arab world and beyond behind them after the other Arab and African sides fell at different stages of the tournament. It is being hailed as the sporting achievement of the entire Arab world since Ons Jabeur of Tunisia reached the final of both the US Open and the Wimbledon earlier this year.

"Continental History!... What an achievement by the Atlas Lions," the Confederation of African Football said in a tweet while Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashed tweeted: "No voice is louder than Morocco's in the World Cup!"

The journalists at the Host Country Media Centre, where many of the media personalities hailing from the Arab nations work, cheered on Morocco as they watched the match at the media centre's Virtual Stadium. Some of them cheered when Cristiano Ronaldo was brought on as a substitute in the second half, but when the Atlas Lions completed the victory, everyone in the room in front of the giant screen were leaping in joy.

Away in Downtown Doha, Abdellah Ayman was preparing to go home after hours of reveling. The young student from a Moroccan university was barely able to speak, his voice coarse and dry from hours of shouting and chanting.

"This is the greatest day of my life, the greatest day for Morocco," he said. "I'm here with my friends from other Arab countries and African countries. Today we are all one, we are all Atlas Lions."