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Rabat – The Moroccan national team enters the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which it will host, in a remarkable position rarely seen in the history of African football. Backed by a world-record streak of 18 consecutive wins, the “Atlas Lions” are the top contenders for the title.
This streak began in June 2024, when Morocco defeated Zambia (2-1) in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and concluded last month with a commanding victory over Uganda (4-0) in an international friendly, confirming the team’s consistent performance and results.
With this achievement, Morocco surpassed the previous record of 15 consecutive wins held by Spain since 2009, having secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Congo Brazzaville in the World Cup qualifiers two months ago. The “Atlas Lions” scored 55 goals during this run, while conceding only four, maintaining a clean sheet in 14 matches, highlighting both offensive superiority and impressive defensive strength.
Moroccan optimism is boosted by the anticipated return of defender and captain Achraf Hakimi, who was awarded the title of Best Player on the continent for 2025, despite recently suffering an ankle sprain during Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. Initial concerns have started to ease as his readiness approaches the kickoff.
National team coach Walid Rekragui commented after the draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington: “We hope Hakimi will be ready for our first match against Comoros. He is improving and wants to be here in Morocco. He is our leader both on and off the pitch.”
Hakimi, alongside Noussair Mazraoui, Yassine Bounou, Sofyan Amrabat, and Youssef En-Nesyri, forms the backbone of a squad that blends experience with ambition. At the awards ceremony in Rabat, Hakimi appeared wearing a medical boot, while Bounou, the goalkeeper for Al-Hilal, received the award for Best Goalkeeper on the continent.
In the forward line, Brahim Diaz, a Real Madrid striker, emerges as an up-and-coming scoring threat, having topped the list of scorers in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with seven goals, even though he missed out on the Qatar 2022 World Cup squad when Morocco achieved a historic fourth-place finish.
The coveted trophy is not just a hope for Morocco to clinch another continental title, but to close a chapter that has lingered for nearly half a century since their sole victory in 1976 in Ethiopia. The closest they came to the title was in 2004, losing in the final to the host nation Tunisia (1-2), a match in which Rekragui participated as a player.
The 50-year-old coach stated: “I hope many will visit our beautiful country during the tournament, and that Morocco will be crowned champion.”
Morocco will kick off its campaign against Comoros on December 21, followed by a match against Mali five days later, and conclude the group stage against Zambia on the 29th of the same month. All matches in Group A will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, which seats approximately 68,700 spectators, and it is also the venue for the final match.
With record numbers, the advantage of home ground and fans, and a complete generation led by Hakimi, Morocco indeed stands on the brink of a historic opportunity to reclaim the long-lost African Cup.
