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Morocco’s stars receive a heroes’ welcome in Rabat after a remarkable fourth-place finish at the World Cup, with Walid Regragui’s side receiving royal honors from the King.
Morocco’s World Cup stars were greeted by thousands of fans on their return to Rabat, with an open-top bus parade for Walid Regragui’s team after their fourth-place finish in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions’ amazing run to the World Cup semi-finals was one of the memorable stories of the tournament, before their eventual 2-0 loss to defending champions France.
Regragui’s team became the first African and Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, after scoring a series of upset victories.
Crowds gathered in the streets of Rabat after the Morocco team returned home from Qatar
Morocco finished fourth after a historic run to the World Cup semifinals
Morocco beat 2018 semi-finalists Belgium in the group stage before beating Spain on penalties after a goalless draw in the round of 16.
The historic semi-final was secured with a 1-0 win over Portugal in the quarter-finals, with Achraf Hakimi and Sofyan Amrabat among the Qatari stars.
Morocco had enjoyed considerable support throughout the tournament, with thousands of fans traveling to the Gulf nation to follow the surprise run through to the closing stages.
The team was greeted by similar numbers on their return home, with crowds in the streets in support of the team carrying flares and flags.
King Mohammed VI honored the team after becoming the first semi-finalists of the African World Cup
The Moroccan staff were accompanied by their mothers at the reception at the Royal Palace
A reception was held at the Royal Palace of Morocco with the team received by King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid.
King Mohammed had been seen among fans celebrating Morocco’s World Cup success during the competition, and was seen wearing the team’s uniform in a car.
Regragui and the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Faouzi Lekjaa, were made commanders of the Order of the Throne, the second-class honor bestowed by the King.
Players from Morocco received official status, the third highest award.
The players were accompanied by their mothers at the event, and their on-field celebrations during the tournament were shown around the world.
Morocco were beaten 2-1 by Croatia in a playoff for third place, and coach Regragui expressed his pride in his team’s run.
“Before the tournament we had a 0.01 percent chance of doing this, and we made it to the last four,” Regragui said.
We are now one of the four best teams in the world, and if you had told me before the tournament, I would have taken it. Nothing would have changed.