Ahead of Morocco’s game against Mali tomorrow at 21h, many people are calling on social media for fans planning to attend to turn up the energy at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat and fully support the Atlas Lions.
This comes after several online fans criticized the atmosphere at the opening Morocco–Comoros match, which many said lacked the energy needed to support the national team.
They compared it to games like Egypt–Zimbabwe in Agadir and Congo–Benin in Rabat, where fans, including Moroccans, got free tickets and lit up the stadiums.
After the opening match, many spectators went on social media to criticize fans who came to take selfies, eat, and watch quietly, saying some even complained when others stood up to cheer because it blocked their view.
Despite over 60,000 having attended the match, many netizens pointed to the lack of unified cheering, saying the atmosphere wasn’t what the Atlas Lions are used to, with some fans even leaving way before the final whistle.
“Yesterday’s crowd was weak in their cheering… the real issue is the type of audience being targeted, treating matches more like a casual outing than a responsibility,” said one Facebook user.
“It’s not about selfies or social media posts, but people need to actually cheer. There should be a culture where if you go to a match and don’t make your voice heard, it feels wrong,” said another.
They added that “at least families and regular fans should whistle when the ball is with the opponent.”
Another issue is the strong presence of some influencers, which some said “took seats from true supporters, those who would cheer until the final whistle, no matter the weather, but unfortunately didn’t get tickets.”
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal said, “the Atlas Lions need fans who hype them on the pitch,” a point many people agreed with online, saying strong fan support has a direct impact on players’ performance.
Regragui previously called for genuine and continuous support for the national team from start to finish during AFCON 2025, running from December 21 to January 18, saying he wants the fans to cheer so loudly that the players hear only them, not him.
The national coach also said he doesn’t want fans spending the game taking selfies or photos.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.