French-Moroccan fans pressured to choose a side ahead of Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final

"It will be like choosing between my mother and my father," said Shayma, a French-Moroccan citizen, when asked about which team will she root for during the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final. 

Many Franco-Moroccans like Shayma are facing an identity crisis ahead of Morocco vs France World Cup's semi-final match on Wednesday, with political and historical factors complicating the conversation.

After defeating Spain and Portugal, two former colonisers of the kingdom, Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-final of the World Cup - a spot longly preserved by Western teams.

As much as football organisations claim that politics have no place at the stadiums, political questions have always managed to secure a seat in football-heated debates, especially in this cup.

France colonised Algeria first in 1830, and then its colonial rule extended to Tunisia and Morocco. Its war crimes in the region, namely in Algeria, are a witness of a brutal and traumatising period in the history of North Africa.

Over the weekend, political experts and social analysts lined up in the French channels to discuss the political and social dimensions this match represents for France.

"Some Moroccan supporters are more inhabited by a feeling of revenge against France than by a sporting spirit," said Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right party Rassemblement National, in a recent interview.

🔴🗣️ Éric #Zemmour « trouve bizarre qu’il y ait plus de gens, qui sont censés être Français et qui célèbrent la victoire du Maroc le jour où la France gagne. ».

« On ne peut pas être pour l’un et pour l’autre. »#MARPOR #FRAMAR pic.twitter.com/IeJ7aa1u1s

— Élections 2022 (@2022Elections) December 11, 2022

Meanwhile, French channel BFTMV hosted a special debate with far-right politician Eric Zemmour to discuss the upcoming match.

"I find it weird that there are more people, who are supposed to be French, and who celebrate Morocco's victory on the day France wins," said the right-wing ex-candidate for France's presidency. "You can't be for one or the other."

The Moroccan diaspora in France accounts for more than one million citizens. Along with the Algerian diaspora, numbering 1.7 million and Tunisia’s 700 000 nationals living in the European country, the three large Maghrebin communities become one away from home.

Ahead of Wednesday's game, many French nationals with North African roots are not shying away from the question "France or Morocco?" And many are choosing the Atlas Lions' side.

"They [French politicians] have never let us be both: North African and French and now once again they are bullying us to choose. I chose Morocco because that's where I’ve always felt at home," said Houssam, a French-Algerian-Moroccan citizen.

Roman Saiss and Soufian Boufal, two key players in the Moroccan football team, were born in France but chose to represent their homeland.

Walid Reguragui, coach of Atlas Lions, was also born and trained in France before joining the Moroccan team as a player first in the early 2000s.

France and Morocco have played each other 11 times before, with Morocco winning on one occasion and France winning seven times. Three matches resulted in a draw. 

Les Bleus and the Atlas Lions have never faced each other at a major tournament and their last meeting was a 2-2 draw in an international friendly in 2007.

Since the start of the World Cup in Qatar, Amazigh, Arabs and Africans have strongly identified with the Atlas Lions' victories in a region where winning seemed unfated for decades.

Their wholesome celebrations and loyalty to the Palestinian flag have swept the region in awe, pushing even non-football fans to cheer for their wins.

"I am really proud of them. (...) Our victories were not payback to colonisers - because their war crimes are far worse. But a proof that we are equals, that we also can win and be happy and celebrate because we worked hard for it and we deserve it," Yassir, a Moroccan football fan told TNA.