Rabat – Cote d’Ivoire head coach and former Morocco boss Herve Renard has described Morocco as the leading national team in African football, pointing to the Atlas Lions’ performances at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups as evidence of their progress.
Speaking to Canal Sport, the French coach said Morocco’s consistency on the global stage has placed the country ahead of its continental rivals.
“I think Morocco today is the number one team in Africa in international competitions, and I don’t think anyone can deny that, especially when you are capable of reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and the quarter-finals in 2026,” Renard said.
Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in Qatar in 2022. Four years later, the Atlas Lions reached the last eight again, becoming the first African country to make multiple World Cup quarter-finals. Their 2026 campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to France.
“On the world stage, Morocco are the African team that have performed the best,” Renard added. “They have shown the way for other African national teams. We have to believe in the ability of these teams because there is enormous quality in African football.”
#TDA 🌍 : « Je pense que le Maroc 🇲🇦 est aujourd’hui le numéro 1 africain dans les compétitions internationales, et personne ne peut le nier. »
Hervé Renard livre son analyse des performances des sélections africaines lors de la dernière Coupe du monde 🌍 ⚽ pic.twitter.com/OIzv02qAPN
— CANAL+ SPORT Afrique (@cplussportafr) September 14, 2026
Renard points to Morocco’s football structure
Renard has first-hand knowledge of Moroccan football after coaching the Atlas Lions between 2016 and 2019.
The Frenchman spent three and a half years in charge and led Morocco to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, ending a 20-year absence from the tournament.
“I know Morocco well after spending three and a half years there,” he said. “I think they have a system and organization at the highest level. They lack nothing compared with the best national teams in the world.”
Renard added that Morocco’s progress is the result of a long-term approach involving investment, infrastructure and organization, arguing that other African countries can learn from the model.
“Morocco understood things well and are on an upward trajectory,” he said. “Other African teams have to follow their example. It requires budgets and infrastructure, and Africa has to continue working in that direction.”
Renard returned to Cote d’Ivoire in August for a second spell as head coach, more than a decade after guiding the Elephants to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title.
The two-time AFCON-winning coach concluded by expressing confidence in the next generation of African players, saying they have the quality to reach the highest level of world football if given the right environment and belief.
