RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Hind Sabouni is proud to recall his country’s historic run at the World Cup, in which it knocked out one European soccer powerhouse and former African colonial power after another — Belgium, Spain and Morocco’s Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo—to become the first African and Arab Nation to reach the semi-finals.
For the 26-year-old English teacher in the Moroccan capital, and many of her compatriots both within the North African nation and across the diaspora, it’s about to get more complicated. Next up is France: the former colonial ruler of Morocco for much of the first half of the 20th century.
Wednesday’s game has political and emotional resonance for both nations. It brings to light all the complexities of the relationship in which France still wields considerable economic, political and cultural influence.
“This game is unique,” Sabouni said. “Especially because France is the next to win.”
“We can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer France’s backyard.”
FILE – Supporters of France look on outside during the World Cup quarterfinal match between France and England, broadcast live on television in a bar, in Paris, Saturday, December 10, 2022. Each match between Morocco and France, the country’s former colonial North African ruler, find themselves in an international tournament, emotions run high among the players and their fans. Familiar stories of the colonial past emerge among Moroccans and stories of the hard life of immigrants in France spring up with questions of national loyalty for French players with immigrant roots. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/François Mori
FILE – Moroccans celebrate in Rabat, Morocco, Saturday, December 10, 2022, after defeating Portugal in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar. Each meeting of Morocco and France, the former colonial ruler of the North African country, face off in an international tournament, emotions run high among the players and their fans. Familiar stories of the colonial past emerge among Moroccans and stories of the hard life of immigrants in France spring up with questions of national loyalty for French players with immigrant roots. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy, File)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Mosa’ab Elshamy
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For the former protectorate, the match against the defending champion is an opportunity to show that Morocco is a formidable foe, at least on the football field, even though immigration between the two countries has blurred the lines for many in France and Morocco on whom to choose. support on Wednesday in Qatar.
Over the last decade, Morocco’s relationship with France has changed. Sabouni said his generation of Moroccans is tired of French dominance. Moroccan youth, he said, “speak English instead of French, buy more American products than French, and even those who want to seek a better life abroad try to avoid France.”
“Even though this is just a soccer game, some people see it as a chance for revenge,” Sabouni said.
But not all.
Kenza Bartali, a communication professional in Rabat, sees no political overtones in the party. He earned his master’s degree in France and lived for two years in Paris and the southern cities of Nice and Toulon between 2016 and 2018. He made “wonderful friends” who are still his friends today. “Most of the Moroccan students were treated with respect,” said the 26-year-old.
Still, there’s no question which team he’s rooting for.
“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 hope 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 seem more comfortable with multiple identities and languages in France, they still face institutional discrimination, racial and ethnic bias in public life, economic hardship and a lack of job opportunities.
As in previous World Cups, France once again turned to its national soccer team, made up of players from diverse backgrounds, as evidence that the country has become a melting pot despite prejudice against stalking, fanned against immigrants by right-wing elected politicians.
“Cultural changes and changes in life on the field have an effect and the team represents that,” said Laurent Dubois, a professor at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and author of two books on French and international soccer.
“The way the players inhabit being French and don’t seem to have a problem with being African or anything else at the same time is an antidote to the resentment of immigrants on the right.”
In Morocco, people have embraced the team’s foreign-born players as their native children. They welcome the experience and professionalism that the best clubs in Europe bring to the table and are proud to have chosen Morocco as their national team when they could have played for their home countries, from Spain to Canada to Belgium and beyond.
Morocco’s national team is heavily reliant on the diaspora, with 14 of the team’s 26 players born abroad, including their French-born coach Walid Regragui, the highest ratio for any team in the World Cup.
Like Morocco’s fans at home and the estimated 5 million spread across Europe and beyond, many players grapple with familiar stories of colonial history, the challenges of immigration, and questions of national loyalty. They desperately want to shed the burdens of the past and earn a place in the World Cup final, whether their home is France or Morocco, or Belgium, Canada, Tunisia, Algeria or elsewhere.
“Most of the Moroccan players, who were born abroad, chose Morocco as their national team because they feel they are playing for more than just winning a soccer match,” said Maher Mezahi, a Marseille-based Algerian journalist who covers soccer. African. “They play to raise national pride and make their family proud.”
For Regragui, his double identity and that of his player are meaningless in the most important game the squad has faced.
“I have dual nationality, and that is an honor and a pleasure,” said the Moroccan coach. “And it is an honor and a pleasure to face France. But I am the Morocco coach and we are going to play against the best team in the world. The most important thing is to reach the final”.
“When we play for the Moroccan team, we are Moroccan,” Regragui said.
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Surk reported from Nice, France.
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