When Morocco take on France in the World Cup semifinal at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Wednesday night, a significant number of South Africans will not support the North Africans.
The Atlas Lions beat Portugal last week to become the first African nation to reach the semifinal stage of the World Cup, sparking joyous celebrations in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world.Dispute over Western Sahara
South Africa and Morocco have a long-running feud about the political status of the Western Sahara, an area Morocco claims as its southern province but South Africa recognises as independent. The situation has created a frosty relationship between the countries, and many South Africans are sympathetic to the cause of Western Sahara, much like they are to Palestinians in their relationship with Israel.
Whether perceived or real, Morocco has at times been seen as choosing either an Arab or an African identity, or even gravitating towards aligning with a European outlook, when that is most convenient, which can rub Sub-Saharan Africans the wrong way.
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