Morocco national team AFCON history explained for beginners

Morocco National Team AFCON History Explained for Beginners

The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a prestigious international football tournament held every two years, featuring the top national teams from Africa. Morocco, a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, has a rich history in the AFCON, with a total of 18 appearances in the tournament since its inception in 1957.

Early Years (1957-1974)

Morocco’s first AFCON appearance was in 1957, where they finished fourth in the inaugural tournament. In the early years, the team struggled to make an impact, failing to progress beyond the group stage on several occasions. However, they did manage to win the 1976 AFCON, defeating Guinea 1-0 in the final.

• 1957: Fourth place
• 1959: Group stage
• 1963: Group stage
• 1965: Group stage
• 1968: Group stage
• 1970: Group stage
• 1972: Group stage
• 1974: Group stage
• 1976

  : Champions

Mid-period (1978-1998)

After their AFCON triumph in 1976, Morocco experienced a decline in their performance, failing to reach the final stages of the tournament in several instances. However, they did manage to reach the semifinals in 1986 and 1992.

• 1978: Group stage
• 1980: Group stage
• 1984: Group stage
• 1986: Semifinals
• 1988: Group stage
• 1990: Group stage
• 1992: Semifinals
• 1994: Group stage
• 1996: Group stage
• 1998: Group stage

Modern Era (2000-Present)

Since the turn of the century, Morocco has experienced a resurgence in their AFCON performance, reaching the final stages of the tournament on several occasions. They finished runners-up in 2004 and 2017, while also reaching the semifinals in 2019.

• 2000: Group stage
• 2002: Group stage
• 2004: Runners-up
• 2006: Group stage
• 2008: Group stage
• 2010: Group stage
• 2012: Group stage
• 2013: Group stage
• 2015: Group stage
• 2017: Runners-up
• 2019: Semifinals
• 2021: Quarterfinals

In conclusion, Morocco’s AFCON history is a tale of ups and downs, with the team experiencing periods of success and decline. However, their recent resurgence suggests that they are a force to be reckoned with in African football.