Morocco

Hundreds of Moroccan football fans have been left devastated as last-minute flight cancellations look set to stop them travelling to Qatar for Wednesday's ...

"The problem is there are no reliable sources. There is no reliable information," Ms Nfati said. "Following the latest restrictions imposed by the Qatari authorities Royal Air Maroc regrets to inform customers of the cancellation of their flights operated by Qatar Airways," the airline said in a statement to the Reuters news agency.

More than soccer on people's minds as winner moves on to face Argentina in the final.

“I’m a dual national, and that’s an honor and a pleasure,” the Moroccan coach said. “And it’s an honor and a pleasure to face France. “Most of the Moroccan players, who were born abroad, chose Morocco as their national team because they feel they play for more than just to win a football match,” said Maher Mezahi, a Marseille-based Algerian journalist covering African football. Like Morocco’s supporters at home and an estimated 5 million scattered around Europe and beyond, many players grapple with family tales of colonial history, the challenges of immigration and questions of national loyalty. For the 26-year-old English teacher in Morocco’s capital, and many of her countrymen both inside the North African nation and throughout the diaspora, it’s about to get more complicated. Young Moroccans, she said, “speak English instead of French, they buy more American products than French ones and even those who want to seek a better life abroad try to avoid France.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose government introduced the visa restrictions, is expected to be in the stands during the semifinal. The French ...

But first, the football teams of the two nations will square off in a historic World Cup semifinal. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. Thirty years later, the [policy was reversed](/opinions/2016/2/25/moroccos-french-renaissance) for secondary school maths, science, and physics. But a long and complex history – and present – shadows relations between the nations separated by the Mediterranean Sea. And a recent visa dispute has made it difficult for relatives in Morocco to visit them. During World War I, France conscripted some 40,000 Moroccan soldiers to fight in its colonial army.

PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Moroccan and French supporters gathered in bars, sports centres and living rooms across France ahead of Wednesday's World Cup ...

Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Morocco had a shot at becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup final, but France are now poised to become the first team to retain their World Cup title in 60 years on Sunday. PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Supporters poured into Paris's freezing Champs-Elysees boulevard on Wednesday after a World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco which for millions tugged at the heartstrings, as "Les Bleus" won 2-0 to reach the final for a second time in a row.

With much of the world rallying around his country's unprecedented run, a member of the Moroccan diaspora says that "to me, we already won the World Cup."

[impromptu pep rallies](https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20221207-moroccans-across-the-world-celebrate-historic-world-cup-victory-over-spain). [5 million expatriates](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-51237-8_13) live in France than anywhere else. [a photographer](https://www.instagram.com/abdelaliessaouis/?hl=en) who lives in Montreal, home to the largest Moroccan community in North America. 22 team](https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/mar), defied the odds to become one of the World Cup's final four. "This will also forever change the mindset of Moroccans and other Africans, that winning and achieving is a possibility." The historic run also is thrilling far-flung Moroccans, giving them new reason to be proud of their home nation.

Every World Cup has one team that defies the odds and makes it further than the majority expected it to. At Qatar 2022, it has been Morocco, a force to be ...

“A historical performance acclaimed by all Africans, Arabs and Muslims is still diminished and underestimated by the West. It means we can [do] without their ‘expertise’ and this unites people from Africa and the Arab world against this whole Western ideology that views us as children of a lesser God,” she said. “There is a general sense of joy, fulfilment and happiness about how the Atlas Lions are roaring to success and making the continent proud at the World Cup,” Okeleji said. “It says so much about our current situation, our aspirations for the people in the region.” Fourteen out of 26 in the squad were born outside Morocco. “It really is amazing to watch everyone coming together and supporting them because I think all of us are kind of fed up with this whole European hegemony ruling over football.

Olinto in Morocco is the perfect stay for those craving ultra privacy, peace and discreet luxury deep in the Atlas Mountains.

[Olinto’s](https://olinto.net/) design and ethos is a minestrone of cultural influences – courtesy of its owner Prince Fabrizio Raspuli di Poggio Suasa, a Franco-Italian furniture collector with a deep affinity for the country. Wandering through the gardens to sundowners on the green-glazed roof terrace or breakfast under the pergola is botanical rapture, with lake reeds and soft grasses shifting gently in the hot breeze. [Moroccan sunlight](https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/travel-pictures-of-morocco), sieved through elaborately crafted pergolas, the mashrabiya and olive leaves.

Walid Regragui side are also the first team from an Arab country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, with Morocco's run in Qatar also uniting communities across ...

Walid Regragui side are also the first team from an Arab country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, with Morocco’s run in Qatar also uniting communities across the world. [became the first Africa team to reach the World Cup semi-finals](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/morocco-portugal-result-walid-regragui-b2242957.html) thanks to their victory over Portugal and now face France for a place in Sunday’s final against Argentina. [Morocco ](/topic/morocco-football)have made history and won hearts during the country’s run to the [World Cup ](/topic/world-cup-2022)semi-finals.

Preview followed by live coverage of Wednesday's Fifa World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco.

Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Randal Kolo Muani (France) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Attempt blocked. Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. - Away3 - Shots - Possession - 5Koundé - 1Lloris Morocco also had a clear penalty appeal waved aside in the first half when goalscorer Hernandez flattened Sofiane Boufal in the area. [Messi and Mbappe? [France](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/france) were more clinical and substitute Randal Kolo Muani ensured they will defend their crown against Argentina and Lionel Messi at Lusail Stadium on Sunday when he turned in Kylian Mbappe's deflected shot 11 minutes from time.

France, led by its star Kylian Mbappé, has sparkled this tournament. In defeating Morocco, the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals, ...

It lost the first three (Brazil 1958, West Germany in 1982 and 1986). Morocco came into the match against France unbeaten in its last ten games (7 wins, 3 draws) and the first African country to advance to a World Cup semifinal. Canada is the only team credited with a score - but it was an own goal, put in the net by a Moroccan player. In the 21st minute, Morocco made an early substitution replacing their captain Romain Saiss who was injured (another defender, Nayef Aguerd, was pulled from the starting list just before kickoff also due to an injury). France is making a return trip after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the semifinal. Morocco hadn't allowed a single goal by an opponent the entire tournament until the semifinal.

France will play Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final after ending Morocco's fairytale run with a 2-0 win in the semi-final.

It was Kolo Muani who drove the move following a loose Morocco pass but Mbappé who ignited it, his quick feet a blur, the shot flicking off the substitute Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, to break kindly. It was possible to wonder whether the physical strain had caught up with Morocco and yet they poured even more energy into the game. After the second, the ball sat up at the far post for Hernandez and his side-on finish was a beauty. Everybody who travelled was determined to live it to the full. This would be a step too far although, as France celebrated, there was a lump‑in‑the‑throat moment – a prolonged and stirring ovation for Morocco from all sides of the arena. And yet the broad brushstrokes did not take in how Morocco made France sweat, how they played with their chests out and not a hint of any inferiority complex.

Morocco are relishing their dream run in Qatar with few predicting they would be gearing up for semi-final action against France.The Atlas Lions have.

Come and enjoy the best World Cup fan experience in London – and enjoy a pint on us – with tickets for all remaining games on sale At talkSPORT we are powered by fans, so come and join us for the ultimate World Cup fan experience this winter – at the The Atlas Lions have become the first African team to reach the last four at a World Cup