Morocco national futsal team

Last updated

Morocco
Nickname(s)Lions of the Atlas
اسود الاطلس
Irzem 'n Atlas
Association Royal Moroccan Football Federation
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Head coach Flag of Morocco.svg Hicham Dguig
Home stadium Salle Mohammed V
FIFA code MAR
FIFA ranking 6th (June 2024)
Highest FIFA ranking6th (June 2024)
Lowest FIFA ranking6th (June 2024)
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Home colours
Kit left arm mar22a.png
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Away colours
First international
Flag of Belarus (1918, 1991-1995).svg  Belarus 4–1 Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg
(Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; February 11, 1995) [1]
Biggest win
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 16–0 Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia
(Dammam, Saudi Arabia; June 21, 2022)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 7–0 Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg
(Cairo, Egypt; July 31, 2004) [2]
FIFA World Cup
Appearances4 (First in 2012 )
Best resultQuarter finals (2021, 2024)
Africa Futsal Cup of Nations
Appearances6 (First in 2000 )
Best resultGold medal africa.svgChampions (2016, 2020, 2024)
Arab Futsal Cup
Appearances6 (First in 1998 )
Best result Gold medal with cup.svg Champions (2021, 2022, 2023)

The Morocco national futsal team, nicknamed Ousoud Al Atlas (Lions of the Atlas), represents Morocco in international futsal competitions. It is affiliated to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and is one of the strongest teams in the world.

Contents

The team has notably won 3 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations and 3 Arab Futsal Cup titles. They qualified for the World Cup four times, first appearing in 2012. Their best World Cup run was in 2021 and 2024, when they reached the quarter-finals. [3]

History

Morocco were runners-up in both the 1998 Arab Futsal Championship and the 2000 African Futsal Championship [4] and finished in third place in the 2008 African Futsal Championship. [5]

At the 2010 UNAF tournament in Libya, the Moroccan national team recorded comprehensive wins against Algeria 7-2, and Palestine 7-1, and a 4-4 draw against Tunisia. However, they lost against Libya 4-3 in the final and finished as runners-up. [6]

That same year, the Moroccan team also competed in the Mediterranean Futsal Cup which also took place in Libya. After finishing second in their group with 4 points, the Atlas Lions fell to a 1-5 defeat against the eventual champions Croatia. The Moroccans would bounce back in the placement play-offs, where they defeated both Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-3 and Lebanon 6-2 to claim fifth place. Hicham Dguig won the best coach award while the player Yahya Baya featured in the team of the tournament.

On 24 April 2016, Morocco won its first ever African title after defeating Egypt 3-2 in the final. [7] Four years later, they successfully defended their title on home soil with a 5-0 win against the Pharaohs in the final. [8] [9]

On 29 May 2021, They won their first Arab cup title after defeating hosts Egypt 4-0 in the final. [10] In the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup, Morocco qualified to the knockout stages for the first time after finishing second in the group stage with 5 points following a 6-0 win against Solomon Islands and two draws against both Thailand and the eventual champions Portugal. [11] They were knocked out in the quarter-finals after narrowly losing 1-0 to Brazil. [12] [13] The following year, they claimed their second Arab cup title after defeating Iraq 3-0. [14] [15] On 5 September 2022, they were ranked 8th in the Futsal world ranking ahead of Italy and behind Kazakhstan. [16]

In September 2022, Morocco took part in the Continental Futsal Championship, a yearly friendly tournament hosted by Thailand. After a 2-2 draw against the hosts and a 4-2 win against fellow African side Mozambique in the first round, Morocco edged past Finland 4-1 in the semi-final. In the final, the Atlas Lions defeated Iran 4-3 to win their first title. [17] [18] [19]

On 16 June 2023, Morocco defeated Kuwait 7-1 in the final, to win its third Arab cup title, becoming the outright most successful team in the competition in the process. [20]

Morocco qualified for the 2024 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations with the country later being awarded the hosting rights of the tournament for the second consecutive time following the withdrawal of Mozambique. [21] After topping their group with ease, with notably a 13-0 thrashing of Zambia in their last group game (their opponent's all-time worst defeat to date). [22] The hosts lifted the trophy for the third time in a row after beating Angola 5-1 in the final, thus tying with Egypt as the most successful teams in the competition. [23] [24]

Competitive record

FIFA Futsal World Cup

FIFA Futsal World Cup record
YearRoundPldWDLGSGADIF
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1989 Did not enter
Flag of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg 1992
Flag of Spain.svg 1996
Flag of Guatemala.svg 2000 Did not qualify
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg 2004
Flag of Brazil.svg 2008
Flag of Thailand (TIS 982 draft standard).svg 2012 Group stage3003515−10
Flag of Colombia.svg 2016 3003614−8
Flag of Lithuania.svg 2021 Quarter-finals5221137+6
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg 2024 53021615+1
Total4/10165294051−11

Futsal Confederations Cup

Futsal Confederations Cup record
YearRoundPldWDLGSGADIF
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2009 Did not enter
Flag of Brazil.svg 2013
Flag of Kuwait.svg 2014
Total0/3------

Africa Futsal Cup of Nations

Africa Futsal Cup of Nations record
YearRoundPldWDLGSGADIF
Flag of Egypt.svg 1996 Did not enter
Flag of Egypt.svg 2000 Runners-up31112412+12
2004 Semi-Finals2002311−8
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2008 Third place64022011+9
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 2011 Cancelled
Flag of South Africa.svg 2016 Champions54011710+7
Flag of Morocco.svg 2020 Champions5500231+22
Flag of Morocco.svg 2024 Champions5500376+31
Total6/725191512451+73

Arab Futsal Cup

Arab Futsal Cup record
YearRoundPldWDLGSGADIF
Flag of Egypt.svg 1998 Runners-up54013019+11
Flag of Egypt.svg 2005 Runners-up54013015+15
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2007 Fourth Place52031218−6
Flag of Egypt.svg 2008 Did not participate
Flag of Egypt.svg 2021 Champions5500262+24
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2022 Champions6600466+40
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2023 Champions6600326+26
Total6/738270517666+110

North African Futsal Tournament

North African Futsal Tournament record
YearRoundPldWDLGSGADIF
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2005 Runners-up4202238+15
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2009 Did not participate
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 2010 Runners-up4301215+16
Total2/385034413+31

Record by opponent

The following table shows Morocco's head-to-head record in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

FIFA Futsal World Cup matches (by team)
OpponentPldWDLGFGAGD
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 100105–5
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 200214–3
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 3102810–2
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 2101911–2
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 201147–3
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 110060+6
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 200249–5
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 110042+2
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 1010110
Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  Venezuela 110032+1
Total165294051–11

World ranking

FIFA published the Futsal World Ranking for the first time in May 2024. [25] [26]

AfricaWorldCountryPoints
16Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1430.55
237Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 1098.56
347Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 1054.42
450Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 1046.24
551Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1041.84
662Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 999.11
776Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 974.01
890Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 954.34
As of September 2024

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for the 2023 Arab Futsal Cup.

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsClub
11 GK Abdelkrim Anbia (1989-04-08) 8 April 1989 (age 35) Flag of Morocco.svg ASF Agadir
121 GK Reda Khiyari (1990-06-21) 21 June 1990 (age 34) Flag of Morocco.svg CL Ksar El-Kebir

42 DF Youssef Jouad (1999-12-30) 30 December 1999 (age 24) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia
52 DF Anas Taybi (1996-03-25) 25 March 1996 (age 28) Flag of Morocco.svg CL Ksar El-Kebir
62 DF Soufiane Borite (1992-12-11) 11 December 1992 (age 31) Flag of Finland.svg FC Kemi
172 DF Othmane El-Idrissi (1999-08-07) 7 August 1999 (age 25) Flag of Morocco.svg CL Ksar El-Kebir

34 FW Anás El-Ayyane (1992-10-30) 30 October 1992 (age 31) Flag of Spain.svg Ribera Navarra FS
74 FW Ismail Amazal (1996-10-10) 10 October 1996 (age 28) Flag of Morocco.svg ASF Agadir
84 FW Saad Knia (captain) (1987-09-06) 6 September 1987 (age 37) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia
94 FW Otmane Boumezou (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 (age 32) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia
104 FW Soufian Charraoui (1996-11-15) 15 November 1996 (age 27) Flag of France.svg Mouvaux Lille MF
114 FW Mohamed Kamal (2001-07-20) 20 July 2001 (age 23) Flag of Morocco.svg Club Feth Settat
134 FW Hamza Maimón (1991-07-11) 11 July 1991 (age 33) Flag of Spain.svg Levante UD
144 FW Idriss Raiss El-Fenni (1996-05-09) 9 May 1996 (age 28) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia
154 FW Khalid Bouzid (1998-04-20) 20 April 1998 (age 26) Flag of Spain.svg Industrias Santa Coloma
164 FW Anas Dahani (1999-12-14) 14 December 1999 (age 24) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last 12 months.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Mohammed Cheridou (1999-09-20) 20 September 1999 (age 25) Flag of Morocco.svg Oussoud Khabazatv. Flag of France.svg  France, 18 April 2023

DF Yassin Salhi (1999-10-01) 1 October 1999 (age 25) Flag of Morocco.svg AS Martilv. Flag of France.svg  France, 18 April 2023
DF Bilal Bakkali (1993-02-24) 24 February 1993 (age 31) Flag of France.svg Étoile Lavalloise MFC v. Flag of France.svg  France, 18 April 2023
DF Achraf Saoud (1990-06-21) 21 June 1990 (age 34) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia v. Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia, 22 December 2022

FW Anas Bakkali (1998-09-05) 5 September 1998 (age 26) Flag of France.svg Étoile Lavalloise MFC v. Flag of France.svg  France, 18 April 2023
FW Soufiane El-Mesrar (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990 (age 34) Flag of France.svg Étoile Lavalloise MFC v. Flag of France.svg  France, 18 April 2023
FW Saadallah Hajibi (2001-11-06) 6 November 2001 (age 22) Flag of Morocco.svg Oussoud Khabazatv. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan, 14 April 2023
FW Anass Nasser (1996-01-10) 10 January 1996 (age 28) Flag of Finland.svg FC Kemi v. Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq, 2 March 2023
FW Khalid Kouri (1993-11-20) 20 November 1993 (age 30) Flag of Morocco.svg CL Ksar El-Kebirv. Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq, 2 March 2023
FW Youssef El-Mazray (1987-07-01) 1 July 1987 (age 37) Flag of Morocco.svg SCC Mohammédia v. Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia, 22 December 2022

COV Player withdrew from the squad due to contracting COVID-19.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Retired from international futsal.

Previous squads

Honours

Official competitions

Africa Futsal Cup of Nations

Arab Futsal Cup

UEFS Futsal Men's Championship

Friendly Tournaments

CFA International Futsal Tournament

Futsal Week Winter Cup

Continental Futsal Championship

Rabat International Futsal Tournament

Croatia International Futsal Tournament

Vietnam International Futsal Tournament (Ho Chi Minh City)

See also

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