Vibrant Moroccans poured into the streets of London on Tuesday evening as their nation triumphed in sensational fashion Spain in the World Cup last 16.
Torches were lit on Edgware Road after Morocco beat Spain on penalties, sparking wild celebrations as the North Africans advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time ever.
Videos posted to social media show elated supporters storming the busy west London street, draped in Moroccan flags. Some sounded their horns while others danced while holding red flares – the color of the country’s flag.
Fans also gathered in Piccadilly Circus and along Oxford Street in central London.
In Morocco, a huge crowd of supporters was filmed gathering in the capital Rabat and lighting torches. Other footage shows fans dancing and singing in a bar while draped in the Moroccan flag.
In Spain, Moroccan fans sang at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid and in the Las Ramblas district of Barcelona.
Born in Madrid, Achraf Hakimi sent Morocco through to the quarter-finals with a daring panenka penalty after a tense, messy 120 minutes of football. They play against Portugal or Switzerland, who play on Tuesday evening at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.
Morocco became only the fourth African country to reach the last eight of the tournament, 12 years after Ghana did so in South Africa.
“We fought and made the Moroccan people happy, we made history and Morocco deserves it, the Moroccan people united us on the field,” coach Walid Regragui told bein Sports .
Riot police and mounted officers were deployed amid chaotic scenes outside Education City Stadium ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Heated arguments took place between some Moroccan fans and security forces over whether or not they could go through the perimeter gate and go to the spectator entrances.
Some people showed their phones and what appeared to be their passports, but were turned away.
There were wild celebrations off the ground as Morocco beat Spain, and some fans were heard saying “bye bye España” as they left.