A general jubilation swept several Moroccan cities on Thursday night after the Lions of Atlas defeated Canada (2-1) at the 2022 World Cup, to be held in Qatar, securing the selection’s first qualification for the second overall World Cup since 1986 .

In the city of Laayoune, human tides flooded squares and arteries to proclaim their joy. Armed with national flags, the residents of the city moved into the various parts of the city with long trains of vehicles in a good-natured atmosphere. Concert of horns and songs, everything was deployed and used to celebrate this historic qualification for the next round of the World Cup in Qatar.

At Place Dcheira in the center of the city, the national colors dominate the decor, while the Mecca, Al Kairaouane and Mohammed VI boulevards, the main thoroughfares, were stormed by thousands of jubilant supporters, who expressed their immense joy at this historic achievement, hands down by a new generation of Moroccan footballers of the caliber Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Noussair Mazraoui and Sofiane Boufal.

? Laayoune, Moroccan Sahara ??

All residents came out to celebrate Morocco’s historic qualification! #DI #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/70Ap6BD2jb

—Carl Johnson (@Crl_Johnson) December 1, 2022

The same scenes of jubilation were observed in the famous Place El Mechouar. In a festive atmosphere, fans sang the national anthem and sang the names of national team players and patriotic songs. Also in the southern provinces joy was expressed in Dakhla.

This historic qualification also sparked scenes of joy and jubilation in all the towns of the Drâa-Tafilalet region. Atlas Lions fans, who invaded the main streets and boulevards of Errachidia, Midelt, Tinghir, Zagora and Ouarzazate en masse, experienced unforgettable moments in a magical atmosphere as they took part in a qualifier repeating the 1986 Mexico feat. Confident Atlas Lions fans now have their sights set on the Round of 16 to secure a spot among the Quarterfinalists.

A qualification that was celebrated with great fanfare from North to South

In Marrakech, too, supporters exploded with joy amidst national flags hanging from buildings, cars, motorcycles, thoroughfares and sidewalks in every neighborhood. As is customary with every victory for the national team, fans gathered at El Harti Square in the Guéliz district and at Jemaâ Fna Square to continue the celebrations. Together they sing the national anthem before singing patriotic songs like Laâyoune Ainiya, Mabrouk 3lina Hadi Lbidaya.

May the world witness the joy of the people of Dakhla!

THE SAHARA IS MOROCCAN! ?? pic.twitter.com/uJ1ujOgpff

—Carl Johnson (@Crl_Johnson) December 1, 2022

Scenes of jubilation also enlivened the streets of Beni Mellal on Thursday evening. Several thousand Atlas Lions supporters, dressed in national colors and proudly displaying the country’s flags, took to the city’s main thoroughfares and avenues despite the torrential rain. In Oujda, the cold weather didn’t stop supporters from pouring in their thousands onto the various boulevards and streets of the central city of the Orient.

In Rabat, aficionados took over the streets of all districts and chanted “dima Maghreb” or “long live the king”. Women, men and children of different ages met mainly on Avenue Mohammed V, especially in front of the Parliament and Rabatville train station. In Casablanca, the scenes of jubilation were spectacular, in the different communities of the metropolis.

The qualification was also duly celebrated in the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region in northern Morocco. As soon as the game was over, the fans stormed the squares and the main arteries of the cities, carried the national flags and sang patriotic songs, as in Place Mohammed VI in Al Hoceïma, Places des Nations and Faro in Tangier Place Moulay El Mehdi in Tetouan , Spain Square in Larache, Martil Corniche, Outa El Hamam Square in Chefchaouen, Moulay El Mehdi Square in Ksar El Kébir and Istiqlal Square in Ouezzane.

The Moroccan national team meets Spain in the second round of the World Cup. The opposing team finished second in Group G after losing the game that also ended 2-1 against Japan on Thursday night.