The Morocco national football team, known as the Atlas Lions, is one of Africa's most successful national football teams. It represents Morocco in men's international football and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
Morocco has won four CAF continental titles, including the 1976 African Cup of Nations and three African Nations Championships (2018, 2020, and 2024). The team has participated in the FIFA World Cup six times.
The Moroccan national team was founded in 1928 and played its first game on 22 December of that year against France's B team, losing 2-1. This team, formed by the best footballers of the LMFA, or the Moroccan Football League (settlers or natives), was active in friendly matches against other North African teams such as Algeria and Tunisia. These associations of settler clubs and local footballers, in addition to having their own championship, clashed with each other in a tournament that Morocco won several times, such as in 1948-1949.
On 19 October 1957, at the second edition of the Arab Games in Lebanon, Morocco made its debut as an independent country against Iraq, at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, and drew 3-3. At the tournament, Morocco recorded their first-ever win, defeating Libya 5-1, then beat Tunisia 3-1 to reach the semi-finals. After a 1-1 draw with Syria, lots were drawn to decide who would progress to the final, and Syria were selected at Morocco's expense.
In 1960, Morocco competed in World Cup qualification for the first time. Drawn against Tunisia in the first round, Morocco won the first leg 2-1, while Tunisia won the second leg by the same score. Morocco won the toss, and beat Ghana 1-0 on aggregate to reach the inter-continental play-offs. The following year, Morocco held the Pan-Arab Games and won the football tournament, winning all five of their matches.
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In 1966, the Moroccan Football Association joined the Confederation of African Football, and the team participated in qualifying for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Morocco thus became the first African national team to qualify for the World Cup after having played in an elimination tournament.
On 3 June 1970, against West Germany, Morocco opened the scoring with a goal in the 21st minute of the game scored by Houmane Jarir. In the second half, however, the Germans scored twice and won 2-1. The Atlas Lions then played against Peru, conceding three goals in ten minutes to lose 3-0. On 11 June 1970, the eliminated Moroccans drew with Bulgaria 1-1.
In 1972 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, the Atlas Lions ousted Algeria, then faced Egypt, defeating them 3-0 in the first leg and suffering a 3-2 defeat on the way back. However, the aggregate win meant they qualified for the final phase of the continental tournament for the first time. In the group stage, they accumulated three 1-1 draws against Congo, Sudan and Zaire and were eliminated in the first round. Qualifying for the 1972 Olympics in Munich with two wins and two draws, Morocco debuted in Group A with a goalless draw against the United States, then lost 3-0 against hosts West Germany and defeated Malaysia 6-0 with a Faras hat-trick, thereby advancing to the second round.
In the 1974 World Cup qualifiers, Morocco successfully passed three qualifying rounds before entering the final stage alongside Zambia and Zaire. Losing 4-0 away against Zambia, the Moroccans bounced back in the second game, defeating the same opponent 2-0 at home. They then went to Zaire for their third game but lost 3-0, conceding all three goals in the second half, with Faras leaving the field due to injury. Morocco filed an appeal, trying to get the match to be replayed; it was dismissed by FIFA. In protest, Morocco withdrew from the qualifiers causing the Atlas Lions to miss their final game at home against Zaire which had already qualified for the finals, with FIFA awarding Zaire a 2-0 win on walkover.
Morocco, coached by the Romanian Virgil Mărdărescu and captained by Faras, took the continental throne at 1976 African Cup of Nations, in only the country's second participation in the competition. After failing to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, they also missed the 1978 and 1982 tournaments.
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Morocco qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, and topped a group consisting Portugal, England and Poland, thanks to two draws against the English and Polish[17] and a 3-1 win against the Portuguese.[18] However, they were narrowly eliminated by West Germany in the first knockout round, thanks to a goal from Lothar Matthäus one minute from the end of regulation time.
Failure to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup opened a period of crisis. In the 1992 African Cup of Nations, the team was eliminated in the first round. They then did not participate in the 1994 or 1996 African Cup tournaments.
Morocco took part in the 2004 African Cup of Nations, drawn into Group D defeating Nigeria 1-0, defeating Benin 4-0[23] and drawing 1-1 with South Africa. In 2014, Morocco debuted in the African Nations Championship after failing to qualify in the 2009 and 2011 editions.
At the 2020 African Nations Championship in Cameroon,[42] Morocco won their second CHAN title, in its second consecutive final appearance. In December 2021, Morocco started its venture at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup's Group C, along with Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia. After qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by winning the third round of CAF qualifiers,[61] the team was drawn in Group F along with Croatia, Belgium, and Canada.
In October 2025, Morocco broke the world record for the longest winning streak in international football, surpassing Spain’s previous mark of 15 consecutive victories set between June 2008 and June 2009. With a 1-0 win over Congo in Rabat, Morocco extended their unbeaten run to 16 straight wins across all competitions, including World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. The streak, which began in June 2024, is ongoing, with Morocco continuing to extend their record as of October 2025.
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From 2011, the Atlas Lions played most of their matches in the new Marrakesh Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,240 seats. Morocco's home colours are most red shirts and green shorts and socks.
The Super Falcons, on the other hand, have had their share of encounters with Morocco. During the 2004 African Cup of Nations, Morocco defeated Nigeria 1-0.
Morocco 2-3 Nigeria Match Highlights l TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024 l Final Game
In a more recent match, Ouzraoui beat Plumptre with an early moment of skill, although the Al Ittihad fullback got the better of the next duel when she outmuscled her opposite number. However, the writing was on the wall, with Alozie forced to foul Mssoudy inside five minutes, although admittedly, the Super Falcons fullbacks received little covering support from Chunwendu Ihezuo and Rasheedat Ajibade.
While Nigeria racked up several corners in quick succession, seeking to keep the pressure on the hosts, it was Morocco who made the first decisive impact. Ouzraoui floored Plumptre in another duel between the pair, and while Halimatu Ayinde cut out the winger's cross, she only succeeded in clearing it straight to Chebbak. There's perhaps no other player in the Cup of Nations more lethal in this scenario, as the Morocco skipper, racing onto the gifted ball on the edge of the box, struck a clean, powerful strike beyond Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 12th minute.
It was the first time Nigeria had conceded from open play during this tournament, but here, their defence found themselves exposed repeatedly. The goal did little to change the complexion of the contest, with Nigeria steadily trying to impose themselves, although they appeared slow to adapt in order to neutralise the menace of the Lionesses' wide players. Ten minutes later, it was 2-0, with Morocco again opening up the Super Falcons down their left side, and again Nigeria's defence were the architects of their own downfall.
On this occasion, Osinachi Ohale lacked awareness with a clearance as Plumptre failed to prevent the cross, with Mssoudy, unmarked and running into space, extending the hosts' advantage to the delight of a capacity crowd in Rabat.
Nigeria went into a huddle before the game restarted, surely contemplating how to revive 'Mission X' -- the bid for their 10th title -- but also appearing to tighten up, with the Falcons' wide players subsequently tracking back more frequently to protect the besieged Plumptre and Alozie.
It was clear, however, that Morocco would never have a better chance to win the title, although their Spanish technical team -- and World Cup-winning head coach Jorge Vilda -- sought to calm the frantic celebrations from the players in the aftermath of both goals.
Nigeria continued to probe aerially and through set pieces -- two of their weapons that had so troubled fancied Zambia in the quarterfinal. Echegini as she had nearly done against South Africa, forged an opening with a snaking run before being squeezed out, with Morocco losing all attacking impetus and beginning to look increasingly vulnerable defensively.
The equaliser was made in Texas, as Okoronkwo, finding herself in space in a right-hand channel, slalomed towards the Lionesses backline, and played in Ijamilusi, who duly made no mistake from close range. Morocco sought to up their game. Ouzraoui, whose influence diminished, broke through and sent a shot straight at Nndazoie, while Morocco thought they had a lifeline in the 78th minute when the referee awarded a penalty for a handball by Oluwatosin Demehin, only for VAR to intervene again.
After leaving Chebbak waiting an age to take the spot-kick, Twanyanyukwa went over to check her monitor and overturned the decision to the despair of the fervent home supporters. Two minutes from time, Nigeria completed the comeback.Again it was Okoronkwo, and again it was a set piece, this time her lofted ball evading both Benzina and Er-Rmichi, with Echegini on hand to sweep home at the backpost.
Morocco's players appeared as shell-shocked as the 40,000 supporters in Rabat, with fans steadily streaming out of the stadium with the gloom and despondency of funeral-goers.
| Team | Titles | World Cup Appearances | African Cup of Nations Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 4 CAF Continental Titles | 6 | 1976 |
| Nigeria | N/A | N/A | N/A |
