Morocco

The Road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup

The Moroccans had to negotiate a two-stage continental qualification process. They first took on Equatorial Guinea in a two-legged play-off, winning 2-0 at home, but shredding fans’ nerves in a 1-0 away defeat, eventually scraping into the next stage.

At the group stage they were pitted against Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mali. The Atlas Lions were particularly impressive at the back, not conceding a single goal in six games. In a tight group, they secured their berth in Russia in the final game by beating Ivory Coast. With three victories, three draws and an 11-0 goal difference, Morocco made it to world football’s showpiece event for the first time this century.

Stars

Moroccan goalkeeper Munir Mohand, 28, was a key man in ensuring frequent clean sheets throughout qualifying, and played every minute of both stages of the campaign, conceding just once, in the first-round clash against Equatorial Guinea. Mohand plays his club football for Spanish team CD Numancia in the country’s second tier.

Mbark Boussoufa is well known to Russian fans, particularly supporters of Anzhi Makhachkala and Lokomotiv Moscow, where he spent 2011-2013 and 2013-2016 respectively. The midfielder is enormously experienced, and provided three assists in qualifying. He’s sure to be a useful source of knowledge about Russia for his teammates ahead of the World Cup.

Khalid Boutaib was his country’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals in six matches – including a hat-trick in the penultimate game versus Gabon. Moroccan fans will be hoping he continues in such a prolific vein at Russia 2018.

Defender Mehdi Benatia is arguably the most well-known player in the line-up, having played at Marseilles, Bayern Munich, Roma and currently Juventus. He’s earned more than 50 caps for the national team.

Curiously, there was just one Moroccan-born player on the pitch during the decisive qualifying match against Ivory Coast – Nabil Dirar, of Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Coach

Frenchman Herve Renard began his coaching career aged just 30, after failing to win any major titles during his playing days. He spent a couple of years at SC Draguignan in his homeland, before taking several jobs around the world – initially in China and England, although his biggest success was in Africa. In 2012, he led Zambia to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, and three years later won the trophy with Ivory Coast. The suave Frenchman took the helm of the Moroccan national side in 2016.

Past Achievements

Historically Morocco have been trailblazers for African teams, and in 1986 become the first nation from the continent to reach the knockout stage at the World Cup Finals.

In Mexico, the Atlas Lions made headlines by going undefeated against England, Poland and Portugal in the group stage. That streak could have lasted longer, had it not been for Lothar Mattheus, who scored for West Germany in the 90th minute of their Round of 16 game, sending Morocco home after a memorable run. West Germany went on to reach the final.

In the 1990s, Morocco appeared at two World Cup Finals, but both times exited at the group stage. Russia 2018 will be the fifth time that the Atlas Lions have taken part at the World Cup Finals.