Morocco wins African and world billiards titles in Marrakech

13:20

Morocco's national billiards team secured a landmark double triumph on home soil on Saturday, winning both the African and world titles at the 2026 championships in Marrakech.

The Moroccan side completed its campaign with an 11-9 victory over Northern Ireland in the world championship team final, adding another major international trophy to the country's billiards record.

Morocco edges Northern Ireland in tense final

The decisive match developed into a closely contested battle, with neither team able to establish a commanding advantage during the final.

Morocco eventually produced the decisive performance to claim an 11-9 victory and secure its second world team title. The achievement follows the national team's previous world championship triumph in 2014.

Playing the final in front of a home crowd in Marrakech added another dimension to the Moroccan victory, as the team completed its campaign with the biggest prize available at the tournament.

Wales beaten in the semi-final

Morocco had booked its place in the final after defeating Wales 11-7 in the semi-final.

The result confirmed the consistency of the Moroccan team throughout the knockout stages and set up the final showdown with Northern Ireland.

The national squad maintained its composure through the decisive matches, eventually turning a demanding tournament run into a world title.

Coach credits players for collective effort

Morocco coach Yasser El Amrani told MAP that the championship victory reflected the work carried out by the players throughout the competition.

He highlighted the quality of the opposition encountered during the tournament and the effort required to overcome several strong national teams.

Player Abderrahmane Cherfi also emphasized the concentration and competitive mentality displayed by the Moroccan squad during its matches.

According to Cherfi, those qualities helped the team complete its campaign with a world title in front of its home supporters.

Marrakech hosts major international billiards event

The African and World Billiards Championships were held in Marrakech from September 17 to 27 under the auspices of the Ultimate Pool Association (UPA) and the International Eightball Pool Federation (IEPF).

The tournament brought together nearly 300 players from around 18 countries.

Competitors took part across 24 categories, covering team competitions, individual events, doubles and Masters divisions.

The scale of the tournament provided Morocco with an international platform while giving its national team the opportunity to compete for major titles on home ground.

A second world title for Morocco

The victory against Northern Ireland gives Morocco two world team championships, following the country's first title in 2014.

The 2026 triumph also adds the African crown to Morocco's international achievement in Marrakech, underlining the team's successful campaign across the different stages of the competition.

For the Moroccan players and coaching staff, the title represents the culmination of a tournament in which concentration, consistency and collective performance proved decisive.