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Morocco faces France in political World Cup semifinal

Morocco is the first African and Arab team to advance to the World Cup semi-finals. The country faces France, which shares cultural, linguistic, family ties and a complicated colonial history. The North African nation has long had a deep passion for the sport. Children can be seen playing football on the streets, from the snowy foothills of the Atlas Mountains to the Medina of Marrakech. The Associated Press has the story:

Morocco faces France in political World Cup semifinal

Newslooks- RABAT, Morocco (AP)

Hind Sabouni bristles with pride as she recalls her country’s history-making World Cup run as it eliminated one European soccer powerhouse and former Africa colonial power after another — Belgium, Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to become the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals.

Morocco football
Security forces stand guard as fans of FAR Rabat light flares and chant slogans during a match against Raja Casablanca in the Moroccan league, in Rabat. [Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP Photo]

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. Next up is France: Morocco’s former colonial ruler for much of the first half of the 20th century.

FILE – Morocco soccer fans celebrate their team’s victory on the Champs-Elysees avenue after the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Morocco and Portugal Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in Paris. Every meeting of Morocco and France, the North African country’s former colonial ruler, meet in an international tournament, emotions run high among players and their supporters. Family tales of colonial past emerge among the Moroccans and stories of harsh life of immigrants in France bubble up with questions of national loyalty pop up to French players with immigrant roots. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

Wednesday’s match has political and emotional resonance for both nations. It dredges up everything that’s complex about the relationship in which France still wields considerable economic, political and cultural influence.

Morocco football
Morocco football fans celebrate after their team beat Canada 2-1 and qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup. [Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP Photo]

“This game is one of a kind,” Sabouni said. “Especially since France is next to beat.”

“We can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer France’s backyard.”

FILE – Supporters of France look from outside during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and England, being shown live on television in a bar, in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. Every meeting of Morocco and France, the North African country’s former colonial ruler, meet in an international tournament, emotions run high among players and their supporters. Family tales of colonial past emerge among the Moroccans and stories of harsh life of immigrants in France bubble up with questions of national loyalty pop up to French players with immigrant roots. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

For the former protectorate, the match against the defending champion is an opportunity to show that Morocco is a formidable foe — on the soccer pitch at least — even though immigration between the two countries has blurred the lines for many in France and Morocco about who to support Wednesday in Qatar.

FILE – French soccer fans watch the World Cup round 8 soccer match between France and England, being played in Qatar, through the window of a bar in Lyon, central France, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. Every meeting of Morocco and France, the North African country’s former colonial ruler, meet in an international tournament, emotions run high among players and their supporters. Family tales of colonial past emerge among the Moroccans and stories of harsh life of immigrants in France bubble up with questions of national loyalty pop up to French players with immigrant roots. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

Over the past decade, Morocco’s relationship with France has changed. Sabouni said her generation of Moroccans is tired of France’s dominance. 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.”

“Even though this is just a football game, some people view it as an opportunity for revenge,” Sabouni said.

But not everyone.

FILE – Moroccans celebrate in Rabat, Morocco, Saturday Dec. 10, 2022, after defeating Portugal in the quarterfinal soccer match of the World Cup played in Qatar. Every meeting of Morocco and France, the North African country’s former colonial ruler, meet in an international tournament, emotions run high among players and their supporters. Family tales of colonial past emerge among the Moroccans and stories of harsh life of immigrants in France bubble up with questions of national loyalty pop up to French players with immigrant roots. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File)

Kenza Bartali, a communications professional in Rabat, sees no political overtones to the match. She obtained her masters degree in France, and lived for two years in Paris and the southern cities of Nice and Toulon between 2016 and 2018. She made “wonderful friends” who are still her friends today. “Most Moroccan students were treated with respect,” the 26-year-old said.

Still, there is no doubt which team she’s supporting.

People celebrate in the Souq in Doha, Qatar after Morocco beat Portugal in a World Cup quarterfinal soccer match at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

“I sincerely hope that Morocco advances to the final,” Bartali said. “I am aware that it will be difficult because France is a very good team, but we are hoping for the best.”

Sabouni’s sentiments resonate with Moroccans and other North Africans in France. Although the younger generation of immigrants from Africa and Asia and their descendants appear to be more at ease with multiple identities and languages in France, they still face institutional discrimination, racial and ethnic prejudice in public life, economic hardship and lack of job opportunities.

Moroccans celebrate in Rabat, Morocco, Saturday Dec. 10, 2022, after their team’s victory against Portugal in the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match played in Qatar. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

Like in previous World Cups, France once again has turned to their national soccer team made up of players from diverse backgrounds as evidence that the country has indeed become a melting pot despite lurking prejudice, stoked against immigrants by elected right-wing politicians.

“Cultural changes and changes in life on the ground do have an effect and the team represents that,” said Laurent Dubois, a professor at University of Virginia in Charlottesville who has authored two books on French and international soccer.

MOROCCO-CELEBRATIONS-
Morocco Soccer Team celebrate victory after beating Portugal at World Cup

“The way the players inhabit being French and don’t seem to have an issue with also being African or anything else at the same time is an antidote to the immigrant resentment on the right.”

In Morocco, people have embraced the team’s foreign-born players as their native sons. They welcome the experience and professionalism they bring from Europe’s top clubs and are proud they chose Morocco as their national team when they could have played for the countries of their births, from Spain to Canada to Belgium and beyond.

Morocco football
Morocco’s national team head coach Walid Regragui presents the CAF Super Cup trophy before the game between Moroccan teams RS Berkane and Wydad AC, in Rabat. RS Berkane were crowned CAF Super Cup champions for the first time after defeating Wydad Casablanca 2-0. [Mosa’ab Elshamy/AP Photo]

The Morocco national team depends heavily on the diaspora, with 14 of the squad’s 26 players born abroad, including their French-born coach, Walid Regragui, the highest proportion for any team at the World Cup.

Morocco’s players hoisted their coach, Walid Regragui, after winning their quarterfinal match against Spain at Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday in Doha, Qatar.
Mike Hewitt/FIFA via Getty Images

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. They want desperately to detach from the burdens of the past and win a place in the World Cup final — whether home for them is in France or Morocco, or Belgium, Canada, Tunisia, Algeria or elsewhere.

Achraf Dari and Walid Cheddira of Morocco celebrate after the 1-0 win during the quarterfinal match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday in Doha, Qatar.
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“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. “They play to elevate national pride and to make their family proud.”

For Regragui, his and his player’s dual identities are meaningless in the biggest match the squad has faced.

Fans from Morocco cheer for victory in the stands after the quarterfinal between Morocco and Portugal at Al-Thumama stadium.
Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images

“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. But I’m the Morocco coach and we’re going to be playing the best team in the world. The most important thing is to get through to the final.”

Yassine Bounou of Morocco makes a save during the the World Cup quarterfinal between Morocco and Portugal. Goalkeepers have powered the final four teams left in the tournament.
Francois Nel/Getty Images

“When we play for the Moroccan national team, we are Moroccans,” Regragui said.

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