Morocco’s qualification for the semi-finals sparked a wave of reaction on social media, but one post in particular drew strong anger from many Moroccan users.
Algerian journalist Khadija Ben Qenna became the focus of controversy after she published a short, “provocative” message following the Atlas Lions’ progress.
Ben Qenna wrote just one word: “والو”, a colloquial term meaning “nothing”, in a post that was widely shared and criticised by Moroccan supporters.
Angry comments quickly followed, with many Moroccans seeing the message as an attempt to belittle Morocco’s achievement after reaching the last four.
The post triggered a broader online argument, as users debated the meaning behind the word and whether it was aimed directly at Morocco’s run in the competition.
The incident added to the tense atmosphere that often surrounds football discussions in the region, especially when major results involve national teams and their supporters.
