Silence replaced the vuvuzela horns, and disappointment followed the excitement. In Rabat, Morocco's defeat to France (2 - 0) on Thursday evening in the World Cup quarter-finals broke the hearts of fans and their hopes, but the pride driven by the 'Atlas Lions' journey remained unshaken.
Said Azirar (18 years) is trying to comprehend the shock: 'It was a very complex match for Morocco.' Despite the difficulty in accepting the result, 'France deserved to win'.
He continued: 'I hoped very much that we would win and reach the semi-finals, but things did not go that way,' regrets Mustafa Al-Qarni (24 years).
With this exit, Morocco, the last representative of the Arab and African nations, leaves the World Cup, achieving a result lower than in 2022 in Qatar, when they reached the semi-finals, only to lose by the same margin to the same opponent.
Before the match, as in other matches of the team, the excitement peaked in the Moroccan capital.
On the terrace of a crowded café in the city center and in the adjacent square, a crowd waving Moroccan flags or wearing red and green scarves impatiently awaited the start of the match.
As if they were in the stadium, fans stood up to sing the national anthem collectively.
In the streets of the Netherlands, fans were celebrating despite the bitterness of bidding farewell to the World Cup (AP)
Every Moroccan attack ignited excitement: shouts, hands on mouths, and fans clinging to each other under pressure. And when Yassine Bounou, the last rampart of the Atlas Lions, saved Kylian Mbappé's penalty in the 28th minute, the crowd exploded with joy, jumping from the chairs in exuberant chaos.
But when Mbappé scored in the 60th minute, a heavy silence fell. Some looked shocked, while others collapsed back into their seats. A female fan hid her face behind a menu.
In the following minutes, the chants gradually returned, but the atmosphere was no longer the same. And when Ousmane Dembélé added the second goal in the 66th minute, disappointment was evident on every face, even some left the café tables.
Ghazalan Al-Idrisi (26 years) preferred to praise the journey of the Atlas Lions, saying, 'They fought until the end' with pride.
Many fans are already thinking about the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will host jointly with Spain and Portugal.
Mustafa Al-Qarni confirms: 'In 2030, we hope to at least reach the final.' He adds: 'It's a dream that will always accompany us, and God willing, we will win the cup!'.
From Rabat to Brussels, passing through Paris and Boston, Moroccan fans shared the same disappointment, while simultaneously praising the team's journey.
Reactions of Moroccan fans during the match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat (AFP)
In Belgium, where Moroccans represent one of the largest non-European communities, hundreds of fans took to the streets of the capital after the match to celebrate despite everything.
Yasmin Al-Attar said: 'In Morocco, we are always happy and celebrate even in our losses. It's natural'.
Karima Darou also softened the situation by saying: 'It's sad (...) but it will pass'.
The same spirit prevailed in France; on the Champs-Élysées, hundreds of fans flocked to the place as soon as the final whistle blew.
Sonia Al-Atafi, a 29-year-old lawyer said: 'I am shocked by the defeat, honestly shocked'. She added: 'But now, I am very, very, very proud of Morocco. And now we will support France'.
For his part, Faisal Al-Yousfi, an administrative observer aged 45, considered that 'this match reflects a certain reality, with two levels: France's level and Morocco's level'.
He added, 'Morocco has made significant progress since 2022, and France is still as strong as we know it, with excellent players'.
In Boston, where the match was held, fans who traveled to follow it seemed to have great difficulty hiding their bitterness.
Qaryan (49) from Tangier in northern Morocco said: 'They fell back a lot'. He added: 'In my opinion, they should have attacked more, tried to score, then defend. But I'm not a coach.'
Despite the disappointment, some fans were already ready to turn the page.
Abdelali Ben Targi said: 'I expected France to win (...) now Morocco is out, but I will support France.'