Moroccan Football Shines Brightly in 2024: A Year of Unprecedented Success

Sunday 29 December 2024 - 12:01

Moroccan football has continued to shine in 2024, following the historic achievements at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This momentum has carried over into the new year, marked by another major milestone—an unprecedented bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This remarkable feat by the Moroccan U-23 national team, known as the “Lions of the Atlas,” is a symbol of the country’s rise as a global football powerhouse. It reflects years of investment and dedication across all levels of the sport, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

In the Olympic tournament, the team delivered a dominant performance in the bronze medal match against Egypt, winning 6-0. Coached by Tarik Sektioui, the U-23 team’s impressive showing at the Paris Olympics was celebrated by sports analysts, cementing their place in history.

On the continental level, Morocco's senior national team faced a tough challenge at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d'Ivoire. Despite being one of the top favorites to win the tournament, the Lions of the Atlas were eliminated in the round of 16. However, the team remained strong on the FIFA World Rankings, maintaining the top spot in Africa and finishing the year at 14th in the world.

In 2024, Morocco’s national team continued its dominance in the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, securing victories in every match played. Their consistency and excellence on the international stage reflect the country’s growing influence in world football.

At the club level, RS Berkane reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup, where they were narrowly defeated by Zamalek. Nevertheless, the club’s performance highlighted their continued prominence in African football. RS Berkane, winners of the competition in 2020 and 2022, remains one of the continent’s most formidable teams, regularly advancing to the later stages of continental competitions and competing with Africa’s most prestigious clubs.

Meanwhile, the AS FAR women’s team reached the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco in November. The military club, champions in 2022, has consistently been one of Africa’s top women’s teams. The title, claimed by TP Mazembe, had a Moroccan touch, as Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi led the Congolese side to their first-ever victory. Boumehdi’s achievement earned her the prestigious title of Africa's best women’s football coach at the 2024 CAF Awards.

Morocco also shone in youth football, with its U-20 and U-17 teams excelling in the Union of North African Football (UNAF) tournaments. The U-20 team finished at the top of their group, securing a spot in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Similarly, the U-17 team impressed with their performance, qualifying for the AFCON with a strong showing in their regional tournament.

In futsal, Morocco celebrated a third consecutive Africa Cup of Nations title for the men’s team, coached by Hicham Dguig, and qualified for the World Cup quarterfinals, further solidifying the country’s dominance in this discipline.

Off the field, Morocco’s reputation as a host nation for major international events continued to grow. The announcement on December 11 that Morocco, alongside Spain and Portugal, will host the 2030 FIFA World Cup was a historic moment for the nation. This achievement highlighted Morocco’s growing role in the global sports community.

In addition to this, Morocco was awarded the right to host the next five editions (2025-2029) of the U-17 Women’s World Cup and the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, further demonstrating the country’s commitment to fostering the growth of football at every level.

Morocco also hosted the CAF Awards for the third consecutive year in 2024, as well as the CAF Women’s Champions League. The country has firmly established itself as a key destination for international football, thanks to its world-class infrastructure and experience in organizing large-scale sports events.

The impressive successes of Moroccan football in 2024, both in terms of team performance and event organization, underscore the substantial efforts invested in the sport under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. These achievements reflect Morocco’s unwavering ambition to make football a pillar of national development, elevating the sport to new heights both domestically and internationally.