Rabat – With only days left before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off, Morocco is in the spotlight of African football. The country will host the continent’s biggest tournament for the second time, carrying both high expectations and the chance to mark a historic moment.
Morocco’s story with AFCON has been full of ups and downs, from winning the title in 1976 to the heartbreak of losing the 2004 final, and stretches of disappointment that tested the faith of fans.
Below is the complete list of every Africa Cup of Nations tournament in which Morocco has participated.
1972 – Debut (Cameroon)
Morocco’s Atlas Lions played their first AFCON in 1972. They drew all three group matches: 1–1 against Sudan and Zaire, and 0–0 with Congo. Ahmed Faras scored both goals. With three draws, Morocco finished third in the group and were eliminated.
1976 – Champions (Ethiopia)
Morocco won its only AFCON title in 1976. In the group stage, they drew 2–2 with Sudan, beat Zaire 1–0, and defeated Nigeria 3–1. In the final round, they beat Egypt 2–1, Nigeria 2–1, and drew 1–1 with Guinea to secure the trophy. Ahmed Faras was the team’s top scorer with three goals.
1978 – Group Exit (Ghana)
In 1978, Morocco drew 1–1 with Tunisia, beat Congo 1–0, but lost 3–0 to Uganda. They finished third in the group and were eliminated. Hassan Amcharrat scored both of Morocco’s goals.
1980 – Third Place (Nigeria)
Morocco reached the semifinals in 1980 but lost to Nigeria. They won the third-place match against Egypt 2–0, with Khalid Labied scoring both goals. Labied finished as Morocco’s top scorer with three goals.
1986 – Fourth Place (Egypt)
Morocco reached the semifinals again in 1986 but lost to Ivory Coast. In the third-place match, they lost 3–2 to the same opponent. Goals came from Abdelfettah Rhiati and Mohammed Sahil.
1988 – Fourth Place (Morocco)
As hosts in 1988, Morocco reached the semifinals but finished fourth. They drew 1–1 with Algeria in the third-place match, with Hassan Nader scoring, but lost on penalties.
1992 – Group Exit (Senegal)
In 1992, Morocco finished last in their group. They lost 1–0 to Cameroon and drew 1–1 with Zaire. Hassan Rokbi scored Morocco’s only goal.
1998 – Quarter-finals (Burkina Faso)
Morocco topped their group with 7 points, drawing 1–1 with Zambia and beating Egypt 1–0 thanks to Mustapha Hadji’s stoppage-time goal. In the quarter-finals, they lost 2–1 to hosts South Africa. Said Chiba scored Morocco’s only goal.
2000 – Group Exit (Ghana/Nigeria)
Morocco finished third in their group with 4 points. They beat Congo 1–0, drew 0–0 with Tunisia, and lost 2–0 to Nigeria. They did not advance.
2002 – Group Exit (Mali)
Morocco earned 3 points: a 0–0 draw with Ghana, a 3–1 loss to South Africa, and a 2–1 win over Burkina Faso with two goals from Mohamed Zerouali. They finished third and were eliminated.
2004 – Runners-up (Tunisia)
Morocco had a strong run, reaching the final. They beat Algeria 3–1 in the quarter-finals and Mali 4–0 in the semi-final. In the final, they lost 2–1 to Tunisia after taking the lead. This remains their best AFCON performance since 1976.
2006 – Group Exit (Egypt)
Morocco drew 0–0 with Libya and Egypt, then lost 1–0 to Ivory Coast on a Didier Drogba penalty. With only 2 points, they were eliminated.
2008 – Group Exit (Ghana)
Morocco started with a 5–1 win over Namibia, with Soufiane Alloudi scoring a hat-trick. But they lost 3–2 to Guinea and 2–0 to Ghana, finishing third in the group.
2012 – Group Exit (Gabon & Equatorial Guinea)
Morocco played in Group C with Gabon, Tunisia, and Niger. They beat Niger 1–0 with a goal from Younes Belhanda, but lost 2–1 to Tunisia and 3–2 to Gabon. With one win and two defeats, Morocco finished third in the group and did not reach the quarter-finals.
2013 – Group exit (South Africa)
Morocco played in Group A and stayed unbeaten but did not advance. They drew 0–0 with Angola, 1–1 with Cape Verde, and 2–2 with hosts South Africa. With three draws, Morocco finished third in the group and missed the quarter-finals.
2017 – Quarter-finals (Gabon)
Morocco returned after missing tournaments. They lost 1–0 to DR Congo, then beat Togo 3–1 and Ivory Coast 1–0 to reach the quarter-finals. Egypt eliminated them 1–0.
2019 – Round of 16 (Egypt)
Morocco won all three group games 1–0 against Namibia, Ivory Coast, and South Africa. In the Round of 16, they drew 1–1 with Benin but lost 4–1 on penalties.
2023 – Round of 16 (Côte d’Ivoire)
Morocco entered as favourites after their 2022 World Cup success. They were knocked out by South Africa, losing 2–0. Achraf Hakimi missed a late penalty, sealing their exit.
2025 – Hosts (Morocco)
As Morocco gets ready to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the team brings history and ambition. They won the title in 1976, lost the final in 2004, and after years of mixed results, they earned global respect at the 2022 World Cup. The Atlas Lions now look stronger and more experienced.
Hosting AFCON gives Morocco more than home advantage. The country has modern stadiums, solid preparation, and a squad built from Europe’s top leagues. With steady leadership, passionate fans, and players used to pressure, Morocco enters this year’s continental tournament as one of the favourites.
For many supporters, anything less than winning the trophy would feel like a disappointment.
