DOHA (Special Envoy).- Al Bayt Stadium is the farthest from the center of Qatar. The structure that looks like an imposing nomadic tent in the middle of the desert has already turned into a real red caldera. The fans of Morocco They arrived in the final hours in the World Cup capital in search of history: To be the first representative of Africa and the Arab world to play in the final of a Cup.

But not only did they experience today the possibility of facing Argentina led by Leo Messi in the decisive game of Qatar 2022. They also sought to eliminate Francetheir former colonizer, a country with which they have emotional ties but also a strong dispute that began more than a century ago and continues to this day. They fear incidents in Europe, but also for the presence in Doha of Emmanuel Macron.

Finally, the match returns to the French. They won 2-0, with goals from Hernández and Muani.

The elimination of Spain and Portugal at the hands of the surprising Moroccan team generated a wave of pride in the North African country. To the historical saga of wars and conquests shared by these countries through the centuries is added a present crossed by migratory conflicts. Moroccans are considered second-class citizens in the wealthy European Union and each conquest of his team is shouted more than a goal.

Moreover, the Arab world has turned its favoritism to the first representative to go this far in a World Cup. For it, There were supporters in Doha who came from Morocco, but also from Saudi Arabia, Iraq or Egypt.

In 1912, France signed the Treaty of Fez with Sultan Abdul Hafiz establish a protectorate in Morocco which would later become a colony. During the First World War, France recruited some 40,000 Moroccan soldiers to fight in its army. During World War II, as happened in several colonies, independence movements began. In Morocco, they were violently repressed by French forces, which increased hatred among the citizens of North Africa. It was not until the mid-1950s that Morocco gained independence.

It is estimated that nearly one million people of Moroccan origin now live in France, where last year a unilateral measure instituted by Macron generated waves of protests on both sides of the Mediterranean. The French government has drastically reduced the number of visas granted to Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian citizens to visit their relatives in Europe. Paris’ argument is that these governments are not cooperating to fight the irregular immigration. But Moroccans blamed the French authorities and began to protest.

Macron was at Al Bayt stadium today. In France, they knew that an eventual victory for the African team would have a taste beyond sport. And that is why they have multiplied security measures for their president but also to protect the streets of the main French cities for fear of excesses. “10,000 police and gendarmes will be mobilized. 5,000 in the Paris region, especially around the Champs-Élysées, and 5,000 outside this Paris region“, announced the Ministry of the Interior. Last Saturday, when Morocco won against Portugal and France against England, the fans of both teams came to celebrate in Paris and there were excesses in the Champs Elysees.

The celebrations preceding the repeated triumphs of the Moroccans were reproduced in several cities of Europe, as well as in other Arab countries. It’s that They came like the Cinderellas of group F, where the Belgian golden generation and the last runner-up, Croatia, had all the cards in hand to qualify. But the story was different. Triumph against Belgium and Canada in the group stage, elimination on penalties against Spain and victory against Portugal last Saturday.

The team was undefeated in the tournament, so far, with four wins and one draw. Most of the Moroccan fans who arrived in Qatar – around 25,000 until the game against Portugal – cannot believe what they have experienced..

The joy was spread by a group of players who compete in major European leagues and who have always believed in their potential. En-Nesyri plays for Sevilla with goalkeeper Bono, the one with an Argentinian accent and a River fan; and Hakimi, the team figure, shares a team with Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Atlas lions, named after a species of cat that inhabited this region of North Africa, have become the surprise of this World Cup.