“This time for Africa”. In French: “this time for Africa”. Words that immediately bring to mind the melody of the anthem from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The singer of this song, Shakira, tweeted these words on her account on Saturday, December 10, after Morocco’s victory against Portugal in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
And with Morocco set to face France in the semi-finals on Wednesday night at 8pm, many international celebrities have shown their support for the Maghreb team. On Instagram, top model Naomi Campbell or the Black Eyed Peas posted Moroccan flags.
Atlas Lions even received congratulations from Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk.
A historic victory for Morocco, which made even the giant YouTube react on Twitter: “History made tonight” (history is made tonight, editor’s note).
Congratulations even in the political field
The historic victory of the Moroccans in the quarter-finals also arouses comments from the political world. Starting with the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, who wrote on Twitter: “Historical and amazing! Well done Morocco! »
The President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, writes for his part that “this is an incredible achievement for the Moroccan team and a source of inspiration for all Arab and African countries. When Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, speaks of a “magnificent achievement” and “one of a kind”.
French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra also reacted, recalling that this Moroccan victory “marks a formidable first for Africa in the history of the World Cup”.
Support from France
The Atlas Lions also benefit from celebrities in France, including Gad Elmaleh. The Moroccan-Canadian comedian shared his joy on his Instagram account. “We will be with you until the end,” he wrote.
A historic match also celebrated by the flagship host of TF1 Jean-Luc Reichmann and the Franco-Moroccan comedian Jamel Debouzze.
France or Morocco, the heart swings
But after the victory of the Blues on Saturday night, which he also welcomed, Jamel Debouzze is more discreet. The choice is truly Cornelian for the Franco-Moroccan personalities.
“I wouldn’t know how to live this moment between France and Morocco, it would be like my father playing against my mother. It’s impossible, it’s a very, very complicated dilemma,” he told BeIn Sports in last week.
Same problem with Elie Semoun, as the comedian’s father is Moroccan. But he seems to have taken sides: “If Morocco wins, I would be happy. »
“No matter what, I want to win”
On the side of the writers, Tahar Ben Jelloun and Leïla Slimani, they say their strong desire to see their home country qualify for the final. “I might say ‘May the best win’, I feel a new kind of feeling rising in me, the one awakened in me by my native land, my origins, my deep roots”, states Tahar Ben Jelloun in the columns of World.
“Whatever happens, I want to have won,” said Leïla Slimani in the sports newspaper The team. “The team is the image of what is most beautiful in Morocco: warmth, solidarity, endurance. I am proud of my country”, she continues and specifies that she would be “happy if France wins”.
Who from France or Morocco will qualify for the World Cup final? Answer Wednesday evening from