The happy couple, Nisrine Kawa and Souheil Adra, after they got engaged. Ali Al Shouk / The National
The happy couple, Nisrine Kawa and Souheil Adra, after they got engaged. Ali Al Shouk / The National
The happy couple, Nisrine Kawa and Souheil Adra, after they got engaged. Ali Al Shouk / The National
The happy couple, Nisrine Kawa and Souheil Adra, after they got engaged. Ali Al Shouk / The National

Meet the Lebanese fans who got engaged during Morocco's historic third-place play-off


Ali Al Shouk
  • English
  • Arabic

A football fan made a surprise marriage proposal in the middle of Saturday's World Cup third-place match between Croatia and Morocco.

Souheil Adra, 46, dropped to one knee and presented the ring to Nisrine Kawa ... who said yes.

The happy couple, who are based in the US, were overwhelmed by fans chanting and cheering for them during the first half of the match.

Mr Adra arrived in Doha as a surprise and didn't even tell his future fiancee he would be at the game.

Mr Adra, who is a surgeon, couldn’t come as he was busy with work. But Ms Kawa, who works as a dermatologist, flew in to watch Morocco play France on Wednesday before attending the third-place match on Saturday.

“I told him that I wished he was with me in the France against Morocco match. I didn’t expect to see him in the stadium tonight and thought he wanted to make it a surprise, but when he showed me the ring, I was speechless,” she said.

“My mother and sister knew that he was going to propose to me but they didn’t say a word.”

Mr Adra said he arrived hours before the match after he managed to change his shift with a colleague. He wore a Morocco jersey and sat close to her but she didn’t notice him at the beginning.

“It was a big surprise for me," Ms Kawa told The National outside Khalifa International Stadium. "I feel shocked, happy and excited at the same time. That was unexpected.

“I still don’t believe what's just happened. It was the best moment of my life."

Ms Kawa, who has been living in the US for seven years, arrived in Doha last week after a request from her mother, who has a clinic in Qatar, to come and watch some of the Fifa World Cup.

“The whole idea came to me when Morocco qualified for the semi-final. Their victory motivated me to come. I wanted to celebrate the special occasion,” Mr Adra said.

“I arranged for this moment at stadium with her mother and sister.”

The couple said they felt proud and happy for what Morocco has achieved in the tournament.

“Everyone will remember this proposal now,” said Mr Adra.

Day 28 of the Qatar World Cup - in pictures

  • Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol opens the scoring. AFP
    Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol opens the scoring. AFP
  • Morocco's Achraf Dari celebrates after levelling the tie. Getty Images
    Morocco's Achraf Dari celebrates after levelling the tie. Getty Images
  • Croatia's Mislav Orsic scores to give his team the lead. AFP
    Croatia's Mislav Orsic scores to give his team the lead. AFP
  • Croatia's starting XI. EPA
    Croatia's starting XI. EPA
  • Morocco's starting XI. EPA
    Morocco's starting XI. EPA
  • Khalifa International Stadium is hosting te third-place play-off between Croatia and Morocco. EPA
    Khalifa International Stadium is hosting te third-place play-off between Croatia and Morocco. EPA
  • Morocco fans, young and old, are in Qatar to watch the Atlas Lions for the final time. PA
    Morocco fans, young and old, are in Qatar to watch the Atlas Lions for the final time. PA
  • Morocco's coach Walid Regragui, right, are aiming to clinch a medal in the third-place play-off against Croatia. AFP
    Morocco's coach Walid Regragui, right, are aiming to clinch a medal in the third-place play-off against Croatia. AFP
  • Lusail Stadium will host Sunday's final. Reuters
    Lusail Stadium will host Sunday's final. Reuters
  • Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni is one win away from lifting the World Cup. EPA
    Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni is one win away from lifting the World Cup. EPA
  • Fans of Morocco cheer at the Souq Waqif market, Doha. EPA
    Fans of Morocco cheer at the Souq Waqif market, Doha. EPA
  • Fans of Croatia are also at the souq. EPA
    Fans of Croatia are also at the souq. EPA
  • France coach Didier Deschamps can guide his country to their third World Cup triumph on Sunday. Getty Images
    France coach Didier Deschamps can guide his country to their third World Cup triumph on Sunday. Getty Images
Updated: December 18, 2022, 7:19 AM