Morocco receive hero’s welcome on return home

Tens of thousands of Moroccans flocked to the capital of Rabat on Tuesday to welcome home their national football team, who became the African country to ever reach the semi-final of a World Cup.

Morocco finished top of a group including Croatia and Belgium, who came third at the 2018 World Cup, before knocking out Spain and Portugal to reach the last four.

The Atlas Lions lost Saturday’s third place play-off 2-1 against 2018 runners-up Croatia, but captured the imagination in Qatar.

As they were driven from the airport and around central Rabat, the team and their coach Walid Regragui waved from an open-topped bus that was followed by dozens of police cars and motorbikes with flashing lights and wailing sirens.

As fireworks exploded above the coastal capital, the crowd cheered and some waved flares.