Morocco National Team AFCON History Complete Guide
The Moroccan national team has a rich history in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with a total of 19 appearances in the tournament since its inception in 1957. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the team’s performance, notable moments, and key players.
Early Years (1957-1970)
Morocco made its debut in the AFCON in 1957, where they finished as runners-up. This marked the beginning of a successful era for the team, with several notable performances in the subsequent years. In the 1961 AFCON, Morocco won its first title, defeating the host team, Ethiopia, in the final.
- 1957: Runners-up
1961: Champions
- 1963: Quarterfinals
- 1965: Quarterfinals
- 1968: Quarterfinals
- 1970: Quarterfinals
Middle Period (1972-1990)
The 1970s and 1980s saw Morocco experience a decline in its AFCON performances. However, the team still managed to qualify for the tournament several times, with some notable results. In the 1976 AFCON, Morocco finished as runners-up, while in the 1986 AFCON, they reached the semifinals.
- 1972: Group stage
- 1974: Quarterfinals
- 1976: Runners-up
- 1978: Quarterfinals
- 1980: Quarterfinals
- 1984: Quarterfinals
- 1986: Semifinals
- 1988: Quarterfinals
- 1990: Group stage
Modern Era (1992-2020)
In the 1990s and 2000s, Morocco experienced a resurgence in its AFCON performances. The team qualified for the tournament several times, with some notable results. In the 1998 AFCON, Morocco reached the semifinals, while in the 2019 AFCON, they finished as runners-up.
- 1992: Group stage
- 1994: Quarterfinals
- 1996: Quarterfinals
- 1998: Semifinals
- 2000: Quarterfinals
- 2002: Group stage
- 2004: Quarterfinals
- 2006: Group stage
- 2008: Group stage
- 2010: Group stage
- 2012: Quarterfinals
- 2013: Group stage
- 2015: Group stage
- 2017: Group stage
- 2019: Runners-up
- 2021: Quarterfinals
Notable Players
Morocco has had several notable players throughout its AFCON history. Some of the most notable include:
- Mustapha Khairi (goalkeeper)
- Abdelmajid Chetali (defender)
- Abdelkrim Merry (midfielder)
- Abdelmajid Chetali (striker)
- Youssef El-Arabi (striker)
Conclusion
The Moroccan national team has a rich history in the AFCON, with a total of 19 appearances in the tournament. The team has experienced several notable performances, including winning its first title in 1961 and finishing as runners-up in 1957 and 1976. In recent years, Morocco has experienced a resurgence in its AFCON performances, with notable results in the 2019 AFCON and the 2021 AFCON.
