Morocco fans ready for quarter-final with backing from Africa and Arab world

RABAT: Moroccan football fans were gathering with friends and family on Saturday (Dec 10) to watch their team's World Cup quarter-final against Portugal, holding the torch as the last African or Arab country left in the tournament.

Ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, Morocco has already beaten high-ranking Belgium and Spain in a tournament marked by upsets, causing wild celebrations by its fans.

Najlaa El Kouni was rushing through the Rabat rain to join her friends to watch the game together at their house, but plans to head into the city centre afterwards no matter the result. "We will join the crowds," she said.

Hundreds of Moroccan fans have flown into Doha for the match after Royal Air Maroc laid on seven extra flights, joining a large contingent already present in Qatar, where many Moroccans live and work. Fans were queuing for stadium access hours before the game.

With the Qatar World Cup the first to be held in an Arab country, Morocco has backed by fans from Iraq to Algeria who cheered its progress into the knockout stages.

It is also the last African team in the tournament and would become the first from the continent to reach a World Cup semi-final if it can get past Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

"As an African it's a great joy to see them march forward despite the turbulent waters," said Angabu Noel Umeikai, 31, a social media analyst in the Cameroonian capital Yaounde.

"I strongly believe Morocco will outclass Portugal today," he added.

In Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, Basile Djehi was drinking with friends and planned to watch the game with them later.

"We all support Morocco. This is Africa's only hope," said the 32-year-old pastry chef.

On the streets of Rabat, many young people were defying the cool, wet