Nothing can prepare people for the moment the ground starts to move.
On Friday night, Morocco was hit by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake.
At least 2,800 people have died, and more than 2,500 have been confirmed injured. The country’s king has declared three days of mourning.
As a result, Morocco’s AFCON qualifier against Libya on Saturday night was postponed, and league fixtures have been delayed.
The Atlas Lions’ players donated blood to help the thousands of injured civilians.
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) September 12, 2023
In addition, their game against Burkina Faso on Tuesday in Lens, France, is a sell-out event, in what was an emotional evening.
Reportedly, the Moroccan Football Federation has declared that the profits from the match will aid victims of the earthquake.
That game, Morocco won 1-0, thanks to a beautiful goal from Azzedine Ounahi.
Despite the roar from the stands, the players didn’t celebrate the goal.
Just United together, not a single smile, performed the sujood prayer with the rest of the squad.
Elsewhere, one of the more bizarre stories came with the match between The Gambia and Congo.
The crucial 2023 AFCON qualifier was due to take place in Marrakesh on Sunday, since the CAF hasn’t approved the use of the national stadium in The Gambian capital city, Banjul.
Marrakesh to host Africa's Cup of Nations game despite the recent earthquake that took the lives of over 2000 people
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) September 10, 2023
Journalist @Levyninho of @BabaGol_ joins to dissect the decision to go forward with the game #MiddleEastNow | @laura_i24 pic.twitter.com/qeyULFnYpK
The game went ahead as planned, just a few hundred kilometres from epicentre.
Both teams’ players hadn’t slept properly for nights before the match, and on Saturday night were sleeping by their hotel pool as a security measure.
The match eventually was played at the Stade de Marrakesh, with Congo going up 2-0.
They were looking sharp for a place in the 2023 AFCON, before The Gambia returned with two late goals from Yankuba Minteh and Muhammad Badamosi.
The dark horses of the 2021 edition, who achieved a historic quarter-final spot, guaranteed their place in the 2023 tournament with style, despite the extreme conditions.
Several sporting events are continuing as planned in Morocco, such as the African Judo Championship in Casablanca, which resumed undisturbed despite the growing number of victims.
Morocco has invested tremendously over the past few years, to ensure the country is considered for hosting big international tournaments.
Club World Cups, AFCON tournaments in 2025 or 2027, and a lucrative World Cup bid for 2030, with Spain and Portugal.
Seven years is indeed enough time to recover from such a disaster but, at the same time, it will be tough for a country that is only just building the infrastructure to host millions of tourists and fans.
With more than 2,000 casualties, this earthquake's mental and psychological impact will accompany Moroccan sports, just like any other part, for a while to come.
Edited by Alex Smith
