“Africa is proud of the Atlas Lions’ performance in this World Cup,” said the Chairman of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, after the defeat of the Moroccan team against France (0-2), Wednesday night in the semi-finals.
The record of the Atlas Lions and the quality of their game now make Africa one of the leading continents in football, said the AUC Chairman in a tweet.
“Thank you Lions for taking us to the top,” wrote Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The Atlas Lions have also made the Arab world proud as put by King Abdullah II of Jordan.
“We are proud of the achievement, unprecedented in the Arab world, of the Moroccan national team,” tweeted the Jordanian Sovereign.
“All my congratulations to my dear brother, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and to the brotherly Moroccan people,” he added, wishing success to the Atlas Lions in the days to come.
Several African leaders have hailed the Moroccan team for its worthy representation of Africa.
Morocco made it to the semi-final after a draw with Croatia, and a win over football heavyweights Belgium, Spain and Portugal which enabled them to go to the semi-finals.
However, Morocco’s pursuit of glory at the World Cup has come to an end Wednesday at the hands of France (2-0) where Walid Regragui’s team gave an admirable performance and did not go down without a fight.
There is understandable disappointment that this team, which has gained so much support along the way and delighted its fans and neutrals alike, will not complete the dream and contest the final against Argentina on Sunday.
They will face Croatia on Saturday in the third-place play-off, while France will face Argentina on Sunday in the final.
Now, if Morocco’s World Cup quest ends, new dreams begin.