Of all the African sides that have qualified for the World Cup in North America next summer, Morocco is regarded as one of the strongest African contenders for the tournament. Although they are still dark horses among the world’s greats, Morocco has positioned itself among the top teams in Africa.
Some of Morocco’s key players are now hitting top form just ahead of the competition, and there’s a chance that they can match or better their impressive run at the previous tournament.
One of the Most Cohesive Teams in the Competition
Morocco completely dominated their qualifying group for the World Cup, finishing with zero losses and only two goals conceded. They managed to score an impressive 22 goals in the process as well, averaging almost three goals per game.Morocco stands out for their cohesive team structure and well-defined playing style. Everyone knows their role, and Walid Regragui has managed to get the best out of the group that has been described as Morocco’s Golden Generation.
What’s notable about Morocco is that it doesn’t have any megastars that upset the equilibrium of the team. When countries have these players, the manager tends to shoehorn them in and sacrifice optimal tactics in doing so. Similar challenges have been observed in other national teams historically.
Morocco does have a few stars performing at the top echelons of the game; however, with vital experience in competitions like the Champions League. Achraf Hakimi has established himself as a leading full-back during his tenure at PSG. Nayef Aguerd, Yassine Bounou, and Hakim Ziyech also form the spine of the team with vital experience.
Morocco Now Considered the Strongest African Nation
According to the latest football bet odds for the World Cup, Morocco is priced at 80/1 to win the tournament. This makes them the highest-rated African side in the tournament, but they are still considered long shots to go the distance. Spain and England are currently the favorites to lift the trophy, with France and Brazil also up there.It will take a lot for Morocco to become the first African nation to win a World Cup, but it isn’t out of the question. In the 2022 tournament in Qatar, they finished first in a tough group that included Croatia and Belgium, winning two games and drawing the third. They then convincingly beat Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds, before ultimately losing to France in the semi-finals. That tournament experience helped forge these players and, after getting so close last time, they will be spurred on to go one better in 2026.
Morocco is arguably better than it was at the last World Cup, and they now have even more experience at the highest level. If they can put in a strong showing at AFCON this year, they may be able to take that momentum with them to North America. Their underdog status may be shifting, with growing recognition of their potential to compete at the highest level.
