Cup exit can't mask the pride of Lions' fans

RABAT — The vuvuzelas finally fell quiet in Morocco on Thursday, as the only African team left in the World Cup failed to overcome the insurmountable hurdle of Kylian Mbappe's France.

The team that had shown such swashbuckling soccer in the previous rounds produced an under-par, defensive — even pensive — performance as it fell 2-0 to the French in the quarterfinal in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The Atlas Lions were hoping to at least match their historic run to the semifinals in Qatar in 2022, where they were also tamed by France by the same scoreline.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi promised, however, that his team will bounce back from its disappointing exit against France and keep building as it prepares to co-host the next tournament in 2030.

"France are a really great side. We were playing a country that has been to the last two World Cup finals, and they have rarely had as much talent as they do now," acknowledged Ouahbi, after the last-eight contest was settled by second-half goals from Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

"We know we can compete, and what we want to do is to work even harder to try to do even better next time."

Ouahbi had said on the eve of the game that he would not consider going out in the quarterfinals as a success.

"I think it's important to do everything to try to win, and I think we did try everything," he added on Thursday.

"We want to go even further and win the World Cup, so we are disappointed because we have lost, but we have to accept it."

Back home, fans' hopes were skyhigh for the 2026 tournament after Morocco stunned the world by reaching the semifinals in Qatar, led by Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi.

Having added outstanding young talent Ayyoub Bouaddi to that squad, and with exciting forward Ismael Saibari leading the attack, many believed Morocco could even topple France this time and progress to the last four again.

Eighteen-year-old Azirar, a diehard Atlas Lions supporter, was still reeling from the defeat after watching the game in Rabat, the Moroccan capital. "It was a really difficult match for Morocco," he said, although he had to admit that "France deserved to win".

Mustapha Garni, 24, said: "I really hoped we'd win and reach the semifinals, but that's not how it turned out."

Before the game, excitement in Rabat was at fever pitch.

On a packed cafe terrace, a crowd waving Moroccan flags and wearing red and green scarves eagerly awaited kickoff and stood to sing the national anthem, just as the players did in the United States.

The crowd erupted in cheers when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Mbappe's penalty in the 28th minute.

Their joy was short-lived though — when Mbappe curled in his 60th-minute shot, silence descended on the terrace. Some fans looked stunned and others slumped in their chairs.

The cheering resumed, though without the same enthusiasm — but when Dembele killed the game as a contest with France's second goal, the party was over.

Ghizlane Elidrissi, 26, said she felt huge pride regardless. "They fought to the very end," she said.

The fans have plenty to look forward to — Morocco is one of the co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal.

In four years time, "we hope to go to the final", said Garni.

"It's a dream that will always stay with us and, God willing, we will win the cup!"

AFP