← The 48 Nations
Group CAfrica
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Morocco

Atlas Lions

Capital
Rabat
Confederation
Africa
Population
~37 million
Languages
Arabic, Berber (Tamazight)
World Cups
7th appearance
Best result
Fourth place (2022)

The Anthem

An-Nashid ash-Sharif (Cherifian Anthem)

β€œManbita al-ahrar / Fountain of the free…”

The melody is older than the words, which were only added in 1970.

β–Ά Listen on YouTube β†—

The Legends

Names that echo

Larbi Benbarek

Forward Β· 1930s–50s

'The Black Pearl' β€” PelΓ© reportedly said if he was king, Benbarek was a god.

Achraf Hakimi

Wing-back Β· 2010s–20s

Lightning-quick PSG full-back and emblem of the 2022 generation.

Hakim Ziyech

Winger Β· 2010s–20s

Left-footed magician who shone at Ajax and Chelsea.

Fun Facts

Worth knowing

  1. 01

    In 2022 Morocco became the first African and first Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.

  2. 02

    The 2022 run turned the whole Arab world maroon β€” its matches drew some of the largest TV audiences in African history.

  3. 03

    Mothers of the players became global stars too, as cameras caught the team celebrating with their families on the pitch.

At the World Cup

The story so far

African football's history-makers. In 1986 Morocco became the first African side to top a group and reach the knockouts; in 2022 it smashed the continent's glass ceiling by reaching the last four.

●
2022

Africa's semi-final

Morocco beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal on its way to a first-ever African semi-final β€” football's great fairytale of the decade.

●
1986

First to top a group

Morocco finished above England, Poland and Portugal β€” a continental first.

Group Stage

Their three fixtures