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Rabat — As we turn the calendar to 2025, the Moroccan sports community reflects on a year filled with triumphs, heartbreaks, and a promising future.
Moroccan athletes carried the hopes of their nation on the world stage. Some delivered, while others fell short.
Mixed fortunes in Paris
The Paris Olympics offered a stage for 60 of Morocco’s best and brightest athletes. Yet, the results were disappointing.
Soufiane El Bakkali stood alone as the nation’s saviour, claiming gold and reaffirming his status as an international icon in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
The Morocco U23 football team also saved face. The Atlas Cubs competed against the world’s finest and earned a bittersweet bronze medal. The undeserved semi-final loss to Spain dashed their dreams of gold, but they went on to thrash Egypt 6-0 to claim third place.
The squad was captained by PSG superstar Achraf Hakimi and led up front by the proven finisher Soufiane Rahimi, who won the men’s Olympic top-scorer title with eight goals.
Meanwhile, the Paralympic team delivered their best-ever performance, clinching 15 medals, including three golds. Mouncef Bouja, Aymane El Haddaoui, and Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi were the standout gold medalists.
African Cup emotional rollercoaster
Rewind to January and Morocco’s first team broke the hearts of millions at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in CĂ´te d’Ivoire.
Morocco entered the competition brimming with confidence after a historic run in the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup and was touted as a favourite, but they fell far short of expectations.
The Atlas Lions were knocked out by South Africa and the manager, Walid Regragui, received much flak for his tactical mistakes and favouritism as calls grew louder for his resignation.
However, Regragui wasn’t ready to bow to pressure.
In an interview with Arriyadia, a Moroccan sports outlet, he explained that he had learned from his mistakes and was ready to steady the ship and bring back glory.
The coach regrouped, recalibrated, and engineered a stunning turnaround during the qualifiers. The Atlas Lions roared back to life, securing emphatic wins with huge score lines and regaining their heft in African football.
But the real test lies ahead.
Morocco will host the 2025 AFCON, and expectations are sky-high. Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has promised a “historic” and “best-ever” tournament and a chance to celebrate African football.
Futsal force
From grass to solid grounds, the Moroccan futsal squad continues to prove it is a mighty force to be reckoned with.
The national futsal team won the Morocco-hosted AFCON Futsal tournament unbeaten and in style. They currently rank 8th in the world, behind Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Russia, Iran, and Kazakhstan.
Women’s football shined
Morocco has been investing heavily in women’s football in recent years, buoyed by efficient scouting programs and a professional league. These efforts are starting to bear fruits.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) organized the CAF Awards in December, celebrating both budding and proven talents in Africa.
Doha El Madani, of FAR Rabat, was named Best Young Player in Africa. Meanwhile, her teammate Sanaa Mssoudy earned the title of Best Interclub Player, and coach Lamia Boumehdi, who manages the Congolese TP Mazembe, was crowned Best Women’s Football Coach.
Combat sports achievements
Football dominated headlines in 2024 but Moroccan fighters have quietly racked up victories on the global stage.
Morocco’s karate team ended the Arab Karate Championship in Amman, Jordan with a third-place finish, bringing home a total of 20 medals, five of them gold.
In kickboxing, Thirteen-year-old Ambar Tesoudali won the 46kg youth title in Germany. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Amira Tahri claimed the youth world title at Enfusion, extending her unbeaten record to 28 fights.
The taekwondo up-and-coming champion Amina Dehhaoui brought home gold also in the under-55kg category at the World Junior Championships.
Raja Casablanca’s dominance
On home turf, Raja Casablanca ruled supreme. The Casablanca-based club won a historic double clinching both the Botola Pro title without a single defeat and adding the Cup of the Throne to their trophy cabinet.
Looking Ahead
The sporting journey was anything but smooth sailing after 2024 delivered moments of joy and despair. The disappointments at AFCON and the Olympics were tough pills to swallow, but they were offset by triumphs, particularly in Paralympic sports, women’s football, futsal, and youth combat disciplines.
Looking ahead to 2025, Morocco will host both the Women’s and Men’s AFCON, which will present the perfect opportunities for both national teams to win the much-awaited African Cup.
2024 was a mixed bag, but the broader story is clear: Morocco is a rising force in the world of sports.
