Argentina won the Qatar World Cup. But for many, it was the performance of the Moroccan team in fourth place that transcended the soccer fields.
On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, the North Africans of Montreal gather at the Timgad Café to follow the soccer World Cup semi-final between the Atlas Lions and the Blues. Morocco is the first Maghreb, African and Muslim team to reach the semi-finals of this prestigious competition. We went there to also understand the meaning of this qualification for Moroccans, North Africans and Africans in Montreal and Quebec.
At the Café Timgad, located in Little Maghreb, the Morocco-France match is broadcast. We discover how to dream, resist and celebrate, because any room where we find so much faith is a prayer room. And any audience with this spirit is a fellowship. Any soul with that much hope is a future. Morocco will not go to the final of this World Cup; the Lions played the match for third place against Croatia, and lost. But, beyond the ranking, one thing is certain: to be defeated so close to the goal only plants hope, which will germinate in the hearts of future generations.
At 1.30 p.m., the hall was packed to capacity; there were more than a hundred spectators. Although the spectators are packed like sardines, people keep coming, because it turns out that “the narrowness is only in the heart”, as the owner of the Timgad café says, who insists loud and clear that “there is still room for everyone.” As the drums resonate, emotions rise in a great sense of foresight. History was written with this decisive semi-final match between Morocco and France.
Photo: Djazia Bousnina
” Hey yo, Mabrouk 3lina, Hadi Albidaya, Mazal Mazal ” (Heyo, congratulations to us, it's only the beginning, the best is yet to come), sings a group of young Algerian and Moroccan men accompanied by their drums, their Tars, of their Derboukas and of their Qraqeb. The Timgad Café is over 8,000 km away from The ancient Roman city which bears this name in Algeria. However, within its four walls, we forget the cold wind of Montreal and we are transported to the heart of the Maghreb by the songs, the warmth and the cacophony of the Arab-Amazigh dialects.
“All that hope, all that victory! ”
Photo: Djazia Bousnina
Looking at the packed room, Hazzit Amar proudly declares: “Morocco is my second country,” even though he has never lived in Morocco, he who has lived in Canada for about fifteen years. “Moroccans are my brothers. That our brothers are happy is our joy,” explains this septuagenarian from Algeria. “They were the first from home to have climbed this obstacle, as North Africans, and Muslims, as North Africans and Muslims,” he said. France colonized Algerians for 132 years. My mother fought in the war of liberation; in fact I am the nephew of Ali Khodja (an Algerian mudjahid (fighter)). Even if, for Morocco, French colonization was shorter, playing against France is very political for all of us,” he says, making a circular gesture to designate all the coffee. “The Moroccans helped us during the war in 1956-1962, and a lot of Moroccans left their skin there.” He closes his eyes while shaking his head, recalling all the sacrifices, and continues: “They helped us to in any way possible. Tunisians too. You have to be thankful, and supporting Morocco in today's battle is the least you can do.”
Only 10 minutes before the start of the match, and the crowd chanted: “God willing, God willing, Morocco qualified. God willing, God willing, Morocco is qualified.” Hazzit stands and exclaims, “Did you feel that? Don't you feel it? All that hope! All this victory! He turns to his countrymen with a smile on his face: “I missed work for that.” Besides, he is not the only one. Mourad and his friends too. “Being Moroccan is a source of pride. We are really proud of our team, the efforts of the players and the importance of what they have achieved.” Tar in hand, he starts playing, then adds: “We won against Spain, we won against Portugal; so we are able to beat France — one colonizer at a time! ” he exclaims before playing again. The lights in the café dim, announcing the start of the match. Hand on their hearts, the spectators sing the Moroccan national anthem: “Your champion has risen up/And answered your call/And in my mouth/And in my blood/Your love has shaken the lights and embers/My brothers, let's go/To the highest.”
Photo: Djazia Bousnina
“They don't know that we believe in them”
Five minutes after kickoff, Théo Hernandez scored a destabilizing goal against Morocco. In response, Idir, a young Algerian, starts playing the derbouka, and immediately the room chants: “Mazel, mazel maghrib, mazel”, which means both that the best is yet to come and that Morocco is still there, standing. Time is running out, and missed opportunities for the Atlas Lions are creating frustrations. Idir, loyal to the post, wants to relax people's spirits with his music. “We are there for the atmosphere, but above all, we are there to absorb the stress and send back positive vibes”, confides the young taxi driver, who also took time off for this opportunity. “The players are agitated because of the pressure of the match” is a phrase repeated by several people throughout the first half. A young man standing with his head tilted up while watching television even asks himself, “Why are they so stressed out? Don't they know that we believe in them and that we support them regardless of the outcome? ”
This feeling is shared by Niama, who applauds to the rhythm of the music in support of her national team. “I am proud of them, I hope they will be able to score in the second half, but if that's not the case, that's okay, I'm still proud of them, I'm still proud of them,” she says. Plus, I came here today to celebrate them. I called at work to say that I was sick, because this day is lived in community. And the result of the match won't change my support for them.”
Unfortunately, with the clock reading 15:37, Randal Kolo Muani scored a second goal for France. Morocco, which had only conceded one goal in the previous five matches, actually scored two goals in this match. With less than 10 minutes to play, the spectators leave the Timgad Café. People are leaving, some frustrated, sad at heart, others drained, needing a break from this emotional roller coaster. Those who stay until the end warmly applaud the performance of the Atlas Lions. Young women are in tears, a son comforts his father, who hides his face in his hands — Morocco will not go to the final.
“They won our hearts”
However, when you go out on Jean-Talon Street, you find people of all ages waving their flags, singing and dancing. Despite this defeat, “they won the hearts of a lot of people, and the simple fact of reaching the semi-final is a great achievement for the African continent and the Arab world; it's something to be very proud of,” says Sadeen Salah, referring to a victory regardless. “Filistin Shuhada, Filistin Shuhada, Filistin” (Palestine the Martyrs, Palestine the Martyrs, Palestine) was repeated by all the celebrants. Being Palestinian, Sadeen tells us that the Moroccan team and its supporters showed great solidarity with the Palestinian cause. “There was a lot of support for the Palestinians, even though we were not participating in the World Cup. It was very moving for us; it shows that we have not been forgotten. For me, when Morocco plays, my country plays.”
This sense of belonging and representation is strongly observed among young people with an immigrant background. Dania Zaron waves her flag that unites many Arab countries. “My sisters and I were born in France, so we are supposed to support France, but we are of Egyptian and Tunisian origin. Our ancestors are Arabs and North Africans; without a doubt we support Morocco, even in defeat,” says this international economics student.
Photo: Djazia Bousnina
Popular decolonization
“Supporting Morocco meant supporting the outsider, supporting people like us, who are not going to bring victory to a Western country that will exploit them even more,” says Hiba. This young Moroccan woman explains that, for her compatriots, these celebrations are “a kind of cure.” “Singing the same songs, reciting the same slogans that we saw our parents recite, it brings us a bit of Morocco here in Montreal.” The enthusiasm surrounding Morocco's victories during the World Cup encourages many young people to discover the atmosphere of the Maghreb neighborhood. It was a first for many of them. “We don't really have an opportunity here to be in community. It is rare for our communities to be together, and not to demonstrate against Legault, but simply to appreciate and enjoy this achievement,” comments Hiba about the diaspora.
On the one hand, this World Cup made it possible to confront Africa's colonial past through several matches, in particular against Belgium, Spain, Portugal and France. “A wave of decolonization is sweeping through questions of perception of the East. So, for many binationals, we finally and fully claim our Africanness, our indigenacy and our Islam,” says Hiba, hand on his chest. “It is a result of self-decolonization, to break this colonial prism in which our identity was designed. Like our team, we are diverse, we are not a monolith. The Moroccan presence is in itself a form of resistance. Except for Moroccans, no one expected us to make it this far,” she adds with a proud air.
On the other hand, there is this determination and perseverance in highlighting the injustice of the present. “The countries we played against have a significant Moroccan diaspora as well as other marginalized groups. They often suffer from racism and various types of discrimination. So, by being represented, we felt strengthened, seen and able to face anything,” concludes Hiba.
The Montreal wind is blowing, flags are flying in the air, young people are demanding a future where they are winners. From their cars, on their horses, police watch them celebrate this unprecedented victory. Here, in front of the Timgad Café, you learn to be, you learn to dream.