Farewell Ahmed Faras: The King Mourns a Star Who Illuminated Moroccan Football
In a sorrowful moment that enveloped Moroccan sports circles in grief, King Mohammed VI sent a message of condolences and sympathy to the family of the late Ahmed Faras, a legendary figure in national football and one of its most prominent historical symbols.
The royal message stated: “We received with deep sadness the news of the passing of the late Ahmed Faras, the former international player, who is under God’s mercy and favor. We ask the Almighty to envelop him in His vast mercy and reward him abundantly for his dedicated service to his country and his illustrious sporting career.”
His Majesty expressed his heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the deceased’s immediate family, all his relatives and loved ones, as well as to his friends and admirers, and to the entire national sports community, particularly the Chabab Mohammédia club, where the late star shone for many years.
The King praised Ahmed Faras’s journey, describing him as one of Morocco’s greatest football stars and one of the national team’s top scorers throughout history. He contributed with his creativity and brilliance to elevate national football on both the continental and international stages during the 1960s and 1970s. His Majesty also recalled that the late player was the first Moroccan to win the African Ballon d’Or in 1975 and played a significant role in the national team’s triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976.
His Majesty reflected appreciatively on the late Faras’s noble human qualities and sincere national pride, which made him a model to emulate and a lasting icon in the memory of Moroccan sports.
The King concluded his message by praying to God to grant the deceased a place in His expansive paradise and to inspire his family and loved ones with patience and solace, citing the verse:
“And give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to God, and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is those who are the rightly guided.”
