The whole world admires the Moroccan football team who showed what it means to play for one’s homeland, but they certainly gave a lot of hope to Moroccan youths around the world, who one day want to become recognized footballers.
Watching the Moroccans bring another football superpower, Portugal, to their knees, after the 2010 world champions Spain, I remembered a young Moroccan from the Usivak camp, whom my fellow cameraman Nedim Agic and I filmed on January 14, 2020.
The cheerful Moroccans then presented us with their football skills, and we had no idea that almost three years later, we would be admiring everything that the Atlas Lions had done in Qatar.
That's when we met Ilyasse Benemmou, who explained to us that he didn't lack anything in Morocco, but that his country didn't help him realize his football dreams, so he set off for Europe. During his stay in Bosnia, Ilyasse also played in several futsal tournaments.
“I want to achieve my goals. To have a better life that I didn't have in my country. My dream is to play football. Play in Europe. Inshallah! I will fight for my dreams. I came from Morocco to Turkey by plane. I walked from Turkey to Bosnia,” Ilyaase said at the time.
We contacted Ilyass again, wanting to talk about his country's success at the World Cup and check how his life and football career is progressing. He left Bosnia more than two years ago.
“My wish is still to one day play for the national team of Morocco. It would be a great honour for me. I am still looking for a chance to show my capacity. I want someone who believes in me. I am currently in Paris with my sister and brother. My mother and another brother are currently in Morocco,” Ilyaase told N1.
We asked Ilyasse Benemmou how did Moroccans around the world celebrate Morocco's sensational victories?
“The whole world celebrated with us. All of Africa and the Arab world. There are Moroccans in all countries of the world. In Canada, America, Australia… Maybe we didn't beat Croatia. But next time we will, if they go to the finals with us. We beat Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal.”
Can the Moroccan “Lions” perform another miracle and knock out the current world champions, France?
“We can beat France. Our footballers don't play football, they fight for Morocco and live for their dreams. We don't just play for the national team. We play for all the Muslims of the world, for all the people in the Arab world, and for all the Moroccans in the world. And for all migrants in BiH and anywhere in the world,” our Moroccan interlocutor said.
The twenty-seven-year-old born in the Moroccan city of Oujda does not want to single out any Moroccan football player, because as he says, they are all individual heroes for him.
“My favourite Moroccan footballers are all of them. They are all good. We have a good goalkeeper, excellent defence and offence this year. Inshallah, I hope we will celebrate in the finals,” he said.
Ilyaase also spoke about prejudice against Moroccans, which he also experienced in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Perhaps even in your country, Moroccans are not viewed in the best way possible. They may not have the opportunity to show their capacity. In Africa, they call us the ‘Lions of the Atlas’. I hope we’ll have a chance to show the world how good we are,” N1’s interlocutor said.
But he expressed his desire to thank the many Bosnians who extended a hand of friendship to him.
“A big thank you to Adisa Mrahorovic and Rasema Kruscica-Hasanspahic from the migrant camp Usivak. Thank you to Tarik and Mirnes Fatic, and other Bosnians with whom we had cordial meetings and who showed goodwill towards us.”
Although he is 27 years old, Ilyasse Benemmou still dreams of becoming a recognized footballer, and he will certainly be further motivated by Morocco's success at the World Cup in Qatar. He sent us a photo wearing the Moroccan national team jersey with his last name. And we believe that he will achieve his goals because he promised to fight like a real “Lion of Atlas.”
Good luck, Ilyaase!
