Tribune News Network
DOHA
Qatar-based Ethiopian artist Tessema Asrate has created a painting to express how Africans are proud of the Moroccan team, ‘The Atlas Lions’, reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The Ethiopian expatriate who paints as a hobby did the painting at the Al Thumama Stadium Fan Zone when Morocco scored their first goal against Portugal on Saturday. Asrate has been doing live paintings at different Fan Zones.
The painting on canvas shows the map of Africa, the Moroccan national flag, Moroccan footballer Hakim Ziyech and the late African football legend Yidnekachew Tessema, who is one of the founding members of Confederation of African Football. Shades of orange are prominent in the painting to depict how Africa is blessed with plenty of resources.
Tessema told Qatar Tribune: “Besides being Ethiopian, I am an African who is so proud of Morocco. Morocco is the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals and it’s a great honour. To show my support, I worked on the painting when the Moroccan team scored the first goal [against Portugal]. It has been a great experience to showcase my skills to thousands of people during the World Cup.”
Tessema said he included Yidnekachew Tessema in the painting because he contributed greatly to the development of football in Africa. “There is even a stadium in Addis Ababa named after him, and one of the stadiums (Stade Tessema) in Morocco was renamed after the football legend.”
Tessema hoped ‘The Atlas Lions’ would win against France on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium.
