The Moroccan national team: a rich history and renewed ambitions
introduction
The Moroccan national football team, known as the "Atlas Lions", is considered one of the strongest African and Arab teams, with a history full of achievements and distinguished participations on the continental and international levels. Since its establishment, the Moroccan national team has remained a source of pride for football fans in Morocco, and has produced many stars who have shone in various international forums.
History of the Moroccan national team
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation was founded in 1955, and just one year later, Morocco officially joined the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). The team played its first international match against Iraq in 1957, and since then, it has begun writing its history full of participations and achievements.
Highlights
World Cup
Morocco was the first Arab and African team to reach the round of 16 in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, after topping a group that included England, Poland and Portugal. It achieved a historic achievement in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as it became the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, after eliminating major teams such as Spain and Portugal.
African Cup of Nations- Morocco won the 1976 African Cup of Nations, an achievement considered the most prominent on the continental level. They reached the final in the 2004 edition, but lost to Tunisia.
Regional and international achievements
He won the Arab Cup in 2012. He won the African Nations Championship (CHAN) twice in a row in 2018 and 2020. He excelled in the Olympic Games after participating several times, most notably in 1972 and 2004.
The most prominent stars of the national team throughout history
The Moroccan national team has presented many distinguished players who left their mark on the history of football, such as:
Noureddine Naybet - former captain of the national team and one of the greatest Moroccan defenders.
Mustafa Hadji - Moroccan football star in the nineties and winner of the African Player of the Year award in 1998.
Badr Banoun - a prominent defender who shone with the local team in the African Championship.
Hakim Ziyech - former Chelsea star and one of the most prominent Moroccan players in the 2022 World Cup.
Achraf Hakimi - Paris Saint-Germain star and one of the best full-backs in the world.
Moroccan national team aspirations
After the legendary achievement in the 2022 World Cup, the Moroccan national team's ambitions have increased to achieve more successes, whether on the continental level by winning the African Cup of Nations, or on the global level by continuing to shine in the 2026 World Cup.
The Moroccan national team remains one of the major football powers in Africa and the Arab world, thanks to its rich history and talented players. As the Moroccan football infrastructure continues to develop, Atlas Lions fans are looking forward to a brighter future, with hopes of winning more titles and achievements.
