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DOHA: The celebrations were to be held throughout the weekend in Doha, as thousands of jubilant Qataris took to the streets a few minutes after the country's stellar victory in the Asian Cup final on Friday, February 1. .
Huge crowds gathered around several giant screens specially built in Doha to watch the match against Japan, then converged on the Corniche, one of the country's main roads, to loudly celebrate many people waving flags.
A circulation as far as the eye could see, while the jubilant Qataris delighted in their 3-1 victory.
Elsewhere in the city, families are celebrated playing traditional Qatari music or celebrating with food.
"We are so happy that it's too much," said Maher al-Baloushi, who had watched the game with his family among a huge crowd in the Katara neighborhood, located by the sea.
A noisy, non-alcoholic and sometimes nervous crowd of Qataris and former tapestries from countries such as Pakistan, Italy, Oman and the United Kingdom applauded almost all the balloons. Qatar challenged the logic of football to win its first-ever Asian Cup. .
"I am very proud because the Qataris can not go (to the United Arab Emirates)," said Shehab, 17, citing current political tensions between Qatar and its former Gulf neighbors, including the Arab Emirates. United.
"It makes it better because it was so difficult," he added.
Qatari supporters cheer after their national team won the last game against Japan at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on February 1, 2019, in Doha, Qatari capital. (Photo: AFP / Karim Jaafar)
Another Qatari, Saleh, was not in agreement.
The 31-year-old said that although he was "very happy", he was sad that he could not be in the stadium to witness the triumph of the Cup with political colors.
"The problem today is that we can not go there, in the UAE, we have to look from the outside," Saleh said.
Since June 2017, many countries in the region have broken off diplomatic relations with Qatar, claiming that Qatar supports terrorism and seeks to strengthen ties with Iran.
Qatar denies the charges and claims that it is punished for pursuing an independent foreign policy.
He also accuses his rival neighbors of wanting a regime change in Doha.
Very few, if any, Qataris traveled to the UAE to attend matches, saying they feared what would happen to them in the current political climate.
An unidentified supporter told AFP that he was afraid of being in prison when he went to Abu Dhabi, where the final was played.
But that did not lessen the jubilation in Doha, which was not even supposed to reach a crescendo on Friday, but rather when the team returned Saturday in Doha in front of a probable crowd of tens of thousands of people.
Qatari supporters cheer after their national team won the last game against Japan at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on February 1, 2019, in Doha, Qatari capital. (Photo: AFP / Karim Jaafar)
Saleh added that the Qataris were happy because expatriates, who represent nearly 90% of the population of the host country of the 2022 World Cup, had shown their support for the country during the political crisis and the Asian Cup.
"They are happy for me, it's as if Qatar was their country," Saleh added.
"Inshallah, everyone supports Qatar."
"THIS IS THE WIN OF EVERYONE"
Mohamed Yousuf Haliq, a crane operator from Pakistan, has been living in the Gulf for 20 years.
"We are very happy, they are our Islamic brothers," he said with a big smile.
Italian Vito Cerabona and his family, including Scottish wife Jacqueline and their three daughters, were close to the mbadive Katara crowd.
"We have been here for 12 years, we consider it our home," said Vito.
"We have the feeling that it is everyone's victory, especially in the current climate.
"Qatar has been very worthy, they deserve it 100%".
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