Khalid Tawalbeh
Doha
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is almost here and so are the fans. But when it comes to fanfare, no can beat the Africans. They have literally taken over the Qatar streets, including Doha Corniche and Souq Waqif, ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
With their dances, slogans and agility of their movements, the fans have turned the squares of Souq Waqif and Doha Corniche into African theater and carnivals.
Exciting dances, accompanied by sound music, varying from country to country, are taking place in Qatar. African dance, one of the customs and traditions of many African countries, is not only limited to football stadiums, but also to anywhere and anytime.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Mohamed Moussa, one of the leaders of the Ghanaian fans, said, "Football provokes the feelings of Africans as if we are at a wedding, the fans perform their various dances to the tune of the sounds of tambourines and flutes. They hit the ground with their feet, their body movements, they direct these dance messages to the opponent that we will win and not be defeated.”
"The fans of Ghana celebrate when their team wins with a certain dance, and they are also keen on wearing clothes in various colours. These dances inspire enthusiasm in the hearts of the fans and therefore in the hearts of the players, who when they hear these jigs get excited, and the excitement in football begins,”
"Football moves a lot of emotions in us that stay with us for a long time even after the final whistle blows,” commented Selim Oumar from the Republic of Senegal and a resident of Qatar. He added, "As fans, we are excited for a long time before entering and after leaving the stadium, and we are overwhelmed by thousands chanting the name of our country with indescribable happiness.”
He stressed that the game of football is synonymous with joy, contributes to relieving the stress of life, and represents a welcoming haven for many to face challenges.
"The round witch spreads unparalleled forms of joy and pleasure, which is why I am excited and feel myself a young man whenever I hear the cheers of the fans of the Senegalese national team.”
Oumar expressed his happiness with the participation of his country’s national team in the World Cup, which brings together fans from all over the world to celebrate football at an exceptional sports festival on the soil of Qatar.
African journalist Naville Chaikh said, "The dances of African countries are very famous and you find them in all sports forums in the world. The Azonto dance is performed by Ghanaian fans, and in Senegal the Pat Pat dance, known to the Jola people, is one of the most famous traditional dances and is performed by fans of the Senegalese national football team everywhere in the world.”
Lamine Mamadou, a fan of the Ghanaian national team, stressed the importance of football and its ability to bring people together under one banner regardless of their origin, affiliation, language, colour and ethnicity.
"Football is different from other sports in its great impact in creating harmony between people, as well as contributing to changing the prevailing perceptions of a culture or region, bringing people closer together and spreading a culture of tolerance and peace,” Mamadou said.
He pointed out that the fans’ attendance at the matches is not limited to supporting the national team, but also to the desire to celebrate this beautiful sport together and express everyone’s passion for football.
"Football has a clear influence on my personality and my way of thinking. I learned from football that life is an arena for honest competition, and it is necessary to cooperate and play in a team spirit in order to win and return a part of the beauty of our homeland to us,” he added.
Amy Malick, a fan of the Cameroon national team who arrived in Qatar for the World Cup, said: "I am keen to support the Cameroon national team and encourage it in competitions because it represents our country in front of the world.”
"The players are considered the best ambassadors for their country, as are the enthusiastic fans in the stands. The Cameroonian national team has the support of Cameroonian fans from all over the world.”