'Proud Of Atlas Lions': Sheikh Mohammed Thanks Morocco For World Cup 2022 Performance

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, sent a heartfelt message to Morocco following the Atlas Lions' loss to France at the Qatar World Cup 2022 Wednesday. In a statement, Sheikh Mohammed thanked the team and said he was proud of them.

"Proud of the lions," he wrote. "Proud of the performance. Proud of the spirit. Proud of the achievement."

The Dubai ruler lauded the Atlas Lions for raising the heads of Arabs, affirming they have brought them pride. "Morocco raised the head of the Arabs in the biggest international sports event. Thank you, the Atlas Lions," he added.

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed also expressed his gratitude to the players, expressing hope that their achievement would inspire Arab youth around the world. "Thank you to the stars of the Moroccan national team," he said.

"You honored the Arabs with this exceptional football performance in the World Cup Qatar 2022, and you achieved pride for every Arab who knows that nothing is impossible with determination and ambition," the Dubai Crown Prince added. "The coming, God willing, is better for our Arab youth everywhere."

The Atlas Lions made history as they became the first African or Arab team to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup 2022. However, the team lost to the French team during the Wednesday match with a 2-0 victory, shattering the hopes of fans that the first Arab or African club would go to the World Cup Finals.

A Moroccan win against France in the semi-finals would also have been a significant one for the country, noting that Paris subdued Rabat as a protectorate for more than four decades before the country's independence in 1956. The two nations were recently entangled in a diplomatic dispute after Paris limited visas for Rabat, leaving Moroccans particularly hungry for triumph against their former colonizer.

Meanwhile, the Morocco vs France semi-final brought an end to a remarkable World Cup run that brought together Africa and the Middle East. As other Arab and African teams were eliminated in the earlier stages of the tournament, the two regions' fan base redirected their attention toward the Atlas Lions, in celebration of Moroccans' Arab and African heritage.