Photo credit: WACO High Fabebook Page

Ameur El Fenniche is a night custodian for WACO High School. With his home country of Morocco playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup earlier this week, students and staff wanted to do something special for the man they cherish so much.

Ameur arrived at the school on Wednesday through the back door, as he does every day. This time, however, he was greeted by students, staff, and a sea of green and red streamers. El Fenniche took the Walk of Fame, high-fiving everyone he could on the way.

As the game kicked off, the WACO staff member was treated to a watch party in the board room. With soccer goals set up in the room, and a Moroccan flag hanging on the wall, Ameur was able to watch the game in the company of students, staff, and WACO’s therapy dog, Arly. Members of the school also cooked some Moroccan dishes for him to enjoy as he watched the game.

Morocco’s appearance in the semi-finals is the first for the country, and the first African and Arab team to reach that point in the World Cup. Despite ultimately falling to France in the match, El Fenniche could feel the love from the WACO community. “It means a lot to me,” he said. “It was something that can make you cry, that support from all the kids and the teachers and principal.” The Moroccan native has worked at WACO High School since 2015.