He said that for kebab seller Belkassam, the Algerian heritage of several prominent French players posed a dilemma for his choice of support. “But I will support Morocco against France,” he said.
For Abdullah Sheikh, 65, the colonial history meant the choice was clear. “We are all with Morocco,” he said.
Among the many Algerians and Moroccans who had spent time in France, sharing an experience of life in a foreign land where they are sometimes exposed to racism, there was camaraderie at the idea of a semi-final against “Les Bleus”.
“You cannot find the difference between Moroccans and Algerians in Paris because it is a city that combines Casablanca and Algiers, a city of at least one million people in the Maghreb region,” said Rachid Ofkir, a Moroccan. who had been living there for a long time. Twelve years.
In Rabat, where Moroccans are enjoying their team’s victory and congratulations from fellow fans in Africa and the Middle East, people were jubilant at the thought that football might bring them and Algerians closer.
“This victory and the spontaneous celebrations that followed are strengthening the Moroccan-Algerian brotherhood,” said Omar Eid Tanain, an employee of the museum.
“For us, Algerians and Moroccans are one people,” he said.
