in Dijon, Moroccan supporters savor the journey of their team
Tuesday, December 6, the Moroccan team qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup by defeating Spain (0-0, 3-0 tab). A historic first for the country, which decreed the joy of a hundred supporters across the whole of France. Example in Dijon.
For some, the night was short. Tuesday, December 6, after the victory of their national team in the round of 16 of the World Cup against Spain, the Moroccan supporters of Dijon celebrated with dignity a historic achievement.
The next day, many have not yet come down from their little cloud, like Zineb, 23: “It was magical, incredible. We went to see the match at the café with friends, but we didn’t expect to win. At the final whistle, everyone went to Place de la République. It was singing, it was was dancing, it was crying”.
Amir, 22, preferred to watch the game at home: “I’ve been a football fan since I was little and I’ve been waiting for this match since I was born. I was very stressed, I was scared but at the final whistle, I dropped everything”.
I cried all the tears in my body
Najat, Moroccan supporter
Like several hundred Moroccan supporters, the young man went to Place de la République, the meeting place of the Dijonnais for each victory of the Atlas Lions. “There, the atmosphere was magnificent between Moroccan songs, fireworks, all those red jerseys. This team wrote history. Now we, the young generation will be able to talk about our own sporting memories” continue Amir with emotions.
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The joy of Moroccans in Dijon
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©Damien Rabeisen / France Televisions
Writing history is also what Najat and her daughter Dina remembered: “Yesterday was total joy, I cried all the tears in my body. First quarter-final, you realize” exclaims the mother of the family. And it’s not over, we’re going to win this world cup.”
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Place de la République in a trance.
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©Amir Zanbaa / DR
His daughter Dina, completes: “This team is a pleasure to see. The Algerians, the Tunisians support us. All these Arab communities reunited in joy, it’s incredible”. The two women, caught up in their enthusiasm, even went to Paris to celebrate the victory on the Champs-Elysées.
It is a huge symbol for the whole Maghreb, for the whole African continent
Dabi, 74, from Dijon and Moroccan supporter
Dabi, 74, would have liked to go out to report this victory last night, “but my age handicapped me”, he smiled mischievously. The Dijonnais followed the meeting in front of his TV, and still can’t believe it: “It’s a huge symbol for the whole Maghreb, for the whole African continent. It’s very strong for me. In front of the TV, I was stunned. These players, I love them all until death”.
Of course, the exploit of Morocco is above all collective. But in Dijon, two names resonate more than the others. First that of the coach, Walid Regragui, DFCO player in 2007. The Moroccan, then right side, had only played 12 games in the Burgundy jersey.
Enough to mark his former teammate, ex-keeper Florent Perraud, current commercial manager of the DFCO: “His success does not surprise me. Walid was an adorable personality off the pitch, always attentive. But from the kick-off, he hated defeat. He transmitted this mentality to his group, which is ready to sacrifice himself for the national jersey. We, the old Dijon, we are proud of him, it is immense what he has done “.
In addition to the coach, Dijon has its little darling, in the person of Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd, Dijon player pendant two seasons from 2018 to 2020. “Nayef was the humble guy, always available and smiling, says Clément, a member of the independent media the Dijon Show, created by DFCO supporters. Here, he never cheated and left only good memories. I am not Moroccan but I am very proud of this team. It’s a bit like Nayef finding Dijon. And what a performance yesterday, he was the boss on the pitch.”
54 police officers were present at Place de la République to ensure the peace of the demonstration. Questioned by France 3 Bourgogne, the police indicated that they had passed “a rather calm and festive evening”.
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The fireworks were out.
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©Amir Zanbaa / DR
The only black spot, around 9 p.m., once the families returned, projectiles were thrown at the police, who responded with tear gas. “It’s a shame because it spoils the party. We Moroccans do not want to project an image of troublemakers, regrets Ayman, 20, a supporter present yesterday at Place de la République. But hey, it was a minority of people, and the police did their job well.
Next meeting, this Saturday at 4 p.m., against Portugal, in the quarter-finals. With why not a new party around 6 p.m.? That’s all the Dijon supporters of Morocco want. With, in a corner of the head, a possible semi-final against the great team of France.