When a team from Africa reaches the World Cup semifinal for the first time, it’s not just a sporting achievement—it’s a statement. The Morocco national football team did exactly that in 2022, and their journey from underdog to global contender has reshaped how the continent is viewed in football.

4 related posts

FIFA Ranking (2024): 13th · World Cup Best Finish: Semifinal (2022) · Highest FIFA Ranking: 6th (2026)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact squad for 2026 World Cup
  • Future of head coach Walid Regragui after 2026
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key figures that define the Morocco national football team, from foundation to recent milestones.

Attribute Value Source
Established 1955 Reuters team profile
FIFA Ranking (2024) 13th FIFA official rankings
World Cup Appearances 6 Reuters team profile
Best World Cup Finish Semifinal (2022) Reuters team profile
African Cup of Nations Titles 1 (1976) Reuters team profile
All-Time Top Scorer Ahmed Faras (36 goals) Reuters team profile

Is the Morocco football team any good?

Recent World Cup performance

Morocco’s run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar rewrote the record books. The Atlas Lions finished fourth, the best-ever finish by an African team at a men’s World Cup. They defeated Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals, then lost 2-0 to France in the semi-finals and 2-1 to Croatia in the third-place match. Reuters World Cup coverage confirmed the full match results.

African dominance

Beyond the World Cup, Morocco has won the African Cup of Nations once (1976) and the African Nations Championship three times (2018, 2020, 2024). They are consistently ranked among the top African sides, often leading the continent in FIFA’s world rankings. FIFA official rankings lists them as the highest-ranked African team for much of the 2020s.

FIFA ranking history

Morocco’s highest FIFA ranking ever was 5th in June 2026, according to Morocco World News reporting. They were ranked 7th in the official June 2026 update before moving to 6th in the live table after Portugal drew with DR Congo. Since 2022, they have consistently stayed in the top 15.

The upshot

Morocco’s World Cup semifinal run was not a fluke. Their ranking trajectory and continental titles show a team that has built sustained excellence. For African football, they now set the benchmark.

The pattern: Morocco has transformed from a sporadic contender into the standard-bearer for African football.

Who is the best Morocco football player?

Achraf Hakimi – modern star

Achraf Hakimi, a right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, is widely considered the current best Moroccan player. He was part of the 2022 World Cup squad and is known for his pace, attacking runs, and defensive solidity. Reuters team profile confirms his inclusion in the squad.

Noureddine Naybet – defensive legend

Noureddine Naybet holds the record for most caps with 115 appearances for Morocco. A commanding center-back, he played for Deportivo La Coruña and Tottenham Hotspur. Cavpo team profile lists him as a legendary figure.

Ahmed Faras – historic icon

Ahmed Faras is Morocco’s all-time top scorer with 36 goals, a record that has stood since the 1970s. He played for Chabab Mohammédia and represented the national team during its first golden era. Reuters team profile notes his place in the team’s history.

What to watch

Hakimi is the current star, but the legends of the past—Naybet and Faras—still define the team’s all-time records. The question is whether any active player can surpass Faras’ goal tally.

The implication: Morocco’s best player today is young, but the team’s historical legacy still rests on players from earlier eras.

Who is Morocco’s all-time top scorer?

Ahmed Faras’ record

Ahmed Faras scored 36 goals in his international career, a mark that has stood since the 1970s. He is widely regarded as Morocco’s greatest striker. Reuters team profile includes him in the team’s historical profile.

Other top scorers

Other notable scorers include Salaheddine Bassir (27 goals), Abderrazak Khairi (24 goals), and Marouane Chamakh (18 goals). None have come close to Faras’ tally.

Active players nearing the record

Among active players, Hakim Ziyech (19 goals) and Youssef En-Nesyri (16 goals) are the closest, but both are far from the record. Cavpo team profile provides squad data showing current players’ goal contributions.

The catch: No active player appears likely to break Faras’ record in the near future, leaving his mark secure for years to come.

Is Morocco better than Egypt in football?

Head-to-head record

In recent years, Morocco has dominated the head-to-head. According to Ahram Online Egyptian sports news, Egypt’s FIFA ranking climbed to 29th in April 2026, its highest since 2017, but Morocco was consistently ranked higher.

Trophy comparison

Egypt has seven African Cup of Nations titles, far more than Morocco’s one. However, Morocco’s World Cup semifinal is a higher peak than any African team has achieved, including Egypt. Reuters team profile confirms the World Cup performance.

Recent form

Morocco has been the more consistent side in the 2020s, reaching the World Cup semifinal and topping the African rankings. Egypt, while strong, has not reached the same global heights. Egypt Independent reporting noted Egypt’s fluctuation in rankings.

Three key differences, one pattern: Morocco has the higher ceiling and current ranking, but Egypt has the deeper trophy cabinet.

Metric Morocco Egypt
FIFA Ranking (as of 2026) 6th–13th 29th
World Cup Best Finish Semifinal (2022) Round of 16 (1934, 2018)
African Cup of Nations Titles 1 (1976) 7 (most recent 2010)

The implication: For the current generation, Morocco is the stronger side. But Egypt’s historical dominance in African football should not be overlooked.

Where does Morocco rank in Africa?

Current FIFA ranking within Africa

As of 2024, Morocco is ranked 1st in Africa according to FIFA official rankings. They have held the top spot for most of the past two years, ahead of Senegal, Nigeria, and Algeria.

Historical ranking trends

Morocco has been in the top 5 in Africa for most of the past decade. Their all-time high global ranking of 5th in June 2026 was reported by Morocco World News reporting.

Comparison with other top African teams

Egypt climbed to 29th globally in April 2026, but was only the fifth-highest African side, behind Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and Algeria, as noted by Ahram Online Egyptian sports news. Morocco’s margin is clear.

The catch

Rankings can shift quickly. Morocco’s high position is built on World Cup performance, but sustaining that without a deep run in 2026 could see them slip.

The pattern: Morocco’s African dominance is real but fragile, hinging on continued World Cup success.

Timeline

  • 1955 – Morocco national football team founded (Reuters team profile)
  • 1976 – Won African Cup of Nations for the first and only time (Reuters team profile)
  • 1998 – Reached highest FIFA ranking of 10th (FIFA official rankings)
  • 2022 – Reached World Cup semifinal, first African team to do so (Reuters team profile)
  • 2024 – Won African Nations Championship (Reuters team profile)
  • 2026 – Participating in 2026 World Cup (Morocco World News reporting)

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Morocco finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup, the best-ever finish by an African team (Reuters team profile)
  • Ahmed Faras is the all-time top scorer with 36 goals (Reuters team profile)
  • FIFA ranking 13th in 2024 (FIFA official rankings)

What’s unclear

  • Exact squad for 2026 World Cup
  • Future of head coach Walid Regragui after 2026
  • Whether any active player will break Faras’ goal record

Quotes

Morocco finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup, the best-ever finish by an African team at a men’s World Cup.

Reuters World Cup coverage

Egypt climbed to 29th in FIFA’s April 2026 rankings, its highest since August 2017.

Ahram Online Egyptian sports news

Morocco was ranked 7th in FIFA’s June 2026 official update before later live-table movement.

Morocco World News reporting

Summary

Morocco’s footballing rise is no longer a surprise—it is a sustained reality. Their World Cup semifinal, consistent top ranking in Africa, and growing list of continental titles have made them the benchmark for the region. For Egyptian football fans, the comparison is clear: Morocco has the current edge, but the historical gap in trophies means the rivalry will continue. The 2026 World Cup will test whether Morocco can maintain its place at the top of African football.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, en.namu.wiki, egyscores.com, ysscores.com, sports.yahoo.com, ysscores.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is the nickname of the Morocco national football team?

They are known as the Atlas Lions (أسود الأطلس).

Who is the current head coach of Morocco?

Walid Regragui has been the head coach since 2022.

What stadium does Morocco play its home matches in?

Most home matches are played at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

How many times has Morocco qualified for the World Cup?

They have qualified six times: 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, and 2022.

What is the kit color of the Morocco national team?

Their home kit is all red, with green accents.

What is the biggest win in Morocco’s history?

Morocco’s biggest win was a 6-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 1998.

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