Cafés along Casablanca’s Ain Diab corniche drew large crowds in the early hours of Tuesday as families and fans poured in to watch Morocco take on the Netherlands. The atmosphere was electric, the seating packed, and several venues were operating on advance booking only.
But the mood soured over price. According to what Goud observed firsthand, a number of customers voiced frustration at what they saw as steep charges, after the cost of a black coffee reached 70 dirhams at some establishments — a figure that triggered a wave of criticism among patrons.
One customer told Goud that they had come to enjoy the match and celebrate with the national team, only to be caught off guard by the prices. Paying 70 dirhams for a black coffee was excessive, the customer said, arguing that such pricing called for oversight. The same patron added that seating was hard to come by, and that anyone without a reservation struggled to find a place to sit. Sporting occasions, the customer went on, should be a chance for people to gather and rally behind the national side, not an opportunity for café owners to push prices up and trade on Moroccans’ attachment to the team.
For context, the Ain Diab corniche erupted in jubilant scenes after the final whistle and Morocco’s qualification, as thousands of people spilled into the streets to celebrate. Fans waved the national flag from cars, chanted slogans and sang late into the night, with the festivities and revelry carrying on until around 8 a.m.
