Morocco, an African nation representing the FIFA World Cup 2022, is considered one of the strongest teams in Northern Africa. It was a part of the former France Colonial Empire which regained independence in 1956. Morocco’s men’s senior team has already participated in five World Cup football, and it will turn six this time.
Morocco has a long journey in the biggest football fair. As of August 25, 2022, FIFA ranks 23 for the Moroccan national men’s soccer team. Read more about Moroccan football history, Qatar World Cup preparation, and their current squad.
Brief History of Moroccan Football
Morocco was a part of France’s Colonial Empire from 1912 to 1956. Moroccan league-best footballers formed an official team in 1928 and played matches with the second-division team of France. It also played a couple of friendly games with French Algeria and Tunisia.
During France’s Colonial Empire era, a couple of players from Morocco also played for the France international team and represented in World Cup football. In 1955, they formed the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. In 1956, France’s colonization empire ended, and Morocco regained their independence.
Furthermore, Morocco participated in the second edition of the Pan Arab Games in 1957. Then, it played a few friendly matches between 1957-1959 before Morocco joined FIFA in 1960. That same year, it participated in the Rome Olympics. Morocco also played in the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifying round but failed to qualify in the intercontinental play-off with Spain.
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Morocco finally made a selection for the 1970 FIFA World Cup held in Mexico, but out of the group stages. Then it represented in the 1972 African Nations Cup but could not surpass the group stage. However, after the next season of the Africa nations Cup, Morocco made a victory winning the Africa Nations Cup, defeating Guinea.
Morocco at the FIFA World Cup
One of the teams of CAF Morocco previously appeared five times in World cup football. It played its first world cup in 1970 but could not surpass the group stages. Even on averagely ranking at 45, Morocco has failed to play in the knockout round as of 2022. It took them sixteen years to return to World Cup football. Morocco again made participation in the Mexico World Cup in 1986.
Moreover, Morocco continuously participated in the fifteen and sixteen editions of the FIFA World Cup. Finally, it made it into the World Cup qualification final in Russia World Cup 2018 and Qatar World Cup 2022. And did not qualify for the next sixteen years.
Morocco FIFA World Cup 2022 squad/preparation
Morocco is one of the teams from African nations to represent in the Qatar World Cup. It made its place for the Qatar World Cup, winning the second league with Kongo DR. The first leg ended 1-1, and Morocco scored four goals in the second leg. It made a spot for the Qatar World Cup with 5-1 in total.
Currently, Morocco is on tour and playing matches with several countries. On August 20, 2022, it played a friendly game with Qatar with two goals each from both sides. Likewise, On August 23, it won in a friendly match with Jamaica.
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Morocco will be in Group F, which includes Croatia, Belgium, and Canada. Morocco will play the first match with Croatia on November 23, 2022, at Al Bayt Stadium. Currently, Walid Regragui is the manager, and Roman Saiss is the captain of the Moroccan team. Here are the potential Moroccan players who may represent the upcoming World Cup.
- GoalKeeper: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)
- Goalkeeper: Munir El Kajoui (Hatayspor)
- Goalkeeper: Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad Casablanca)
- Defender: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Defender: Adam Masina (Watford)
- Defender: Nayef Aguerd (Rennes)
- Defender: Romain Saiss (Wolves)
- Defender: Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad Casablanca)
- Defender: Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid)
- Defender: Samy Mmaee (Ferencvaros)
- Defender: Sofiane Alakouch (Metz)
- Defender: Sofian Chakla (Leuven)
- Midfielder: Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)
- Midfielder: Imran Louza (Watford)
- Midfielder: Azzedine Ounahi (Angers)
- Midfielder: Faycal Fajr (Sivasspor)
- Midfielder: Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers)
- Midfielder: Selim Amallah (Standard Liege)
- Midfielder: Yahya Jabrane (Wydad Casablanca)
- Forward: Tarik Tissoudali (Gent)
- Forward: Munir El Haddadi (Sevilla)
- Forward: Ayoub El Kaabi (Hatayspor)
- Forward: Sofiane Boufal (Angers)
- Forward: Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla)
- Forward: Ryan Mmaee (Ferencvaros)
- Forward: Abde Ezzalzouli (Barcelona)
