Eighth finalist of the 1986 World Cup, Morocco is one of the few African teams to have reached this stage of the competition.
The Moroccan selection is now the second highest ranked African team in the Fifa ranking (23rd), behind Senegal (18th).
Morocco has only had a World Cup finals five times, the last of which was in 2018, driven by a generation that ended twenty years of scarcity.
The story
In 1976, Moroccan players flew from Dire Dawa to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
While the plane had just taken off a few minutes earlier, one of the reactors caught fire and forced an emergency landing after a U-turn.
All came out safe and sound, but the fear was very real.
Team form
The Atlas Lions remain on 4 games without defeat, but to put into perspective given the level of their opponents (South Africa, Liberia, Chile and Paraguay).
Previously, the Moroccans lost 3-0 to the United States last June.
In recent months, defeats have appeared when a team with a similar level presents itself, and victories only against nations much lower ranked than Morocco.
In a pool as strong as theirs at the World Cup, getting a place in the top two will necessarily require a feat, even if Canada seems within reach.
The list of selected players
Pillars present and a large pool of Ligue 1 players: Morocco is complete for a Qatari World Cup which it will play with great weapons.
Apart from the Parisian Achraf Hakimi, the presence of Bounou, Mazraoui, Aguerd, Boufal, Harit or En-Nesyri were obviously expected.
On the Ligue 1 side, there are also Angevin Ounahi and Toulouse Aboukhlal.
Goalkeepers:
Tagnaouti (Wydad AC), Bounou (Sevilla FC), El Kajoui (Al-Wehda FC)
Defenders:
Hakimi (Paris SG), Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Aguerd (West Ham), Saïss (Besiktas), Dari (Brest), El-Yamiq (Valladolid), Attiatallah (Wydad AC), Benoun (Qatar SC)
Midfielders:
Amrabat (Fiorentina), Sabiri (Sampdoria), Amallah (Standard de Liège), Ounahi (Angers), El Khannouss (KRC Genk), Jabrane (Wydad AC)
Attackers:
Ziyech (Chelsea), Boufal (Angers), Harit (Marseille), Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Chair (QPR), En-Nesyri (Sevilla FC), Cheddira (SSC Bari), Hamed-Allah ( Ittihad FC)
The probable composition
Probable composition of Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.
Even if he will not play in a 5-man defense like at PSG, Hakimi will be one of the spearheads of his selection.
In front, Youssef El-Nesyri has lost his luster for two seasons and is struggling to find the net this year.
After having shone with Ajax, Hakim Ziyech spends more time on the Chelsea bench than on the lawn.
As for Sofiane Boufal, he made a very good start to the season with 3 goals and 2 assists in 8 games with SCO Angers.
In short, a rather experienced selection, solid at the back (Mazraoui, Saïss, Hakimi) but which will have to regain efficiency on the front of the attack.
Player to watch: Achraf Hakimi
Moroccan Achraf Hakimi against Chile at the RCDE stadium (Barcelona), September 23, 2022. Pressinphoto / Icon Sport
He is one of the few players to shine in the best European leagues.
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back is as capable of coming back strong in defense as of scoring on the other side of the pitch.
With the Parisian armada, the Moroccan has already scored 2 goals and delivered an assist this season in Ligue 1. In his lane, Hakimi can wreak havoc to carry the ball to his attack carried by known players in Europe ( Boufal, El-Nesyri and Ziyech).
Morocco match schedule
