TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Know Your Team: Morocco

Morocco plays host to the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 in search of their second African title. 

The Atlas Lions will have a new mission to prove their strength and the form they showed at the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, especially as Moroccan fans expect a lot from them, following their disappointing exit in the last edition of the continental competition.

Profile

• Title: "Atlas Lions"
• Participation: 20 times
• Titles: 1 (1976)
• World ranking: 14 (December 2024)

How they qualified for the finals

 Morocco qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 as the hosts, but participated in the qualifiers in a formal capacity. They finished top of Group B, which included Gabon, Lesotho, and the Central African Republic, with 6 wins and a perfect 18 points, making them the only team to achieve this number of victories in the qualifiers.

Coach: Walid Regragui

Walid Regragui, a 49-year-old former international player for the Atlas Lions is the trusted man to lead the Atlas Lions to victory. He has managed various Moroccan clubs, including FUS Rabat, Wydad Casablanca, and Qatar's Al Duhail.

Coach Walid Regragui led his country to international success during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he achieved an exceptional record. No African team had ever progressed as far as Morocco did, reaching the semi-finals and defeating several strong teams. Regragui managed to quickly form a strong unit with the "Atlas Lions".

Key players to follow

• Achraf Hakimi: The star of French club Paris Saint-Germain remains one of the most prominent pillars of the Moroccan national team due to his vast experience and technical ability, which he consistently displays with both his club and national team in various competitions.
• Brahim Diaz: The Real Madrid player is among the most prominent figures in the Moroccan national team, with the technical staff of the "Atlas Lions" led by Walid Regragui placing significant reliance on him. He is always part of the coach’s plans, hoping to provide the necessary contribution.

TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations campaign

The Moroccan national team has often stood out during its participation in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, often reaching the advanced stages of the competition. Despite being crowned continental champions only once in 1976, Morocco has reached the final twice, finished third once, and fourth twice.

What to expect:

The Moroccan national team is expected to be one of the main contenders for the title. The team will benefit from home advantage and support from the public, which could greatly assist them in winning a title that has been absent from their trophy cabinet for 49 years.

Did you know?

The Moroccan national team remains the only African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, which was achieved in the 2022 edition in Qatar. This unprecedented achievement for an African teams makes Morocco eager to prove its brilliance and move past its earlier setback in the 2023 AFCON finals held in, Côte d'Ivoire.