Morocco national under-17 football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Morocco women's national under-17 football team.
Morocco U-17
Nickname(s)Atlas Lions
أُسُود الأطلس
ⵜⴰⵔⴰⴱⴱⵓⵓⵜ ⴰⵏⴰⵎⵓⵔ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ
AssociationRoyal Moroccan Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Head coach Nabil Baha
Home stadiumVarious
FIFA codeMAR
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Tunisia 0–2 Morocco 
(Tunisia; 2 July 1988)
Biggest win
 Morocco 16–0 New Caledonia 
(Qatar; 9 November 2025)
Biggest defeat
 Portugal 6–0 Morocco 
(Qatar; 6 November 2025)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2013)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2023, 2025)
U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances4 (first in 2013)
Best result Champions (2025)
Arab Cup U-17
Appearances3 (first in 2011)
Best resultRunners-Up (2022)
Medal record
U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
2025 Morocco
2023 Algeria
Arab Cup U-17
2022 Algeria
2012 Tunisia

The Morocco national under-17 football team represents Morocco in international under-17 football competitions and is governed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The team competes in the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, Arab Cup U-17 and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

History

On 8 September 2022, Morocco lost the 2022 Arab Cup, after losing in penalties to Algeria.[1]

In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco had a successful run, securing a spot in the knockout stages by finishing atop their group. They demonstrated their prowess by winning two matches and suffering a single defeat.[2][3][4] In the subsequent match against Algeria, the Moroccan team emerged triumphant with a remarkable 3-0 victory, solidifying their qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[5][6] Moving on to the semi-finals, they faced off against Mali in an intense battle that ended with a nail-biting 6-5 victory for Morocco on penalties, thanks to a heroic save by goalkeeper Taha Benrhozil.[7][8] Ultimately, Morocco finished the tournament in second place after a closely contested final, ending with a 2-1 loss.[9][10] However, their commendable conduct throughout the competition earned them the fair play award, a testament to their sportsmanship.[11]

In the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Morocco qualified to the knockout stages after finishing top in the group stages winning two matches and losing one.[12][13] In the Round of 16, they defeated Iran on penalties.[14] They were eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing to Mali 1-0, a remeet after the 2023 AFCON U-17 took place in Algeria.[15]

In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco qualified to the knockout stages after finishing top in the group stages winning two matches and drawing one.[16] They defeated South Africa 3-1 in the Round of 16.[17] In the Semi-final, Morocco drew 0-0 with Ivory Coast and secured victory through a penalty shootout.[18] In the Final, Morocco defeated Mali in penalties to claim their first ever continental title.[19]

In November 2025, Morocco achieved the largest winning margin ever recorded in an 11-a-side FIFA World Cup match, defeating New Caledonia 16–0 at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The result established a new FIFA tournament record for the highest score in any World Cup age category.[20]

Tournament records

CAF U-16 and U-17 World Cup Qualifiers record

CAF U-16 and U-17 World Cup Qualifiers
Appearances: 1 / 5
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1985 did not participate
1987
1989 Second Round 4 2 1 1 3 2
1991 Disqualified
1993 did not participate
Total 1/5 Second Round 4 2 1 1 3 2

FIFA U-17 World Cup

Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA
1985 did not participate
1987
1989 did not qualify
1991 Disqualified
1993 did not participate
1995 did not qualify
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009 did not enter
2011 did not qualify
2013 Round of 16 10th 4 2 1 1 8 5
2015 did not qualify
2017
2019
2023 Quarter-finals 7th 5 2 1 2 6 5
2025 Quarter-finals TBD 6 2 1 3 21 13
2026 To be determined
2027
2028
2029
Total Quarter-finals 3/20 15 6 3 6 35 23

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations record

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1995 did not qualify
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009 did not enter
2011 did not qualify
2013 Fourth Place 4th 5 2 2 1 10 5
2015 did not qualify
2017
2019 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 4
2021 Cancelled
2023 Runners-up 2nd 6 3 1 2 8 5
2025 Champions 1st 6 3 3 0 11 1
2026 To be determined
Total Champions 4/14 20 8 7 5 31 15

Arab Cup U-17 record

Arab Cup U-17
Appearances: 2 / 3
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
2011 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 3 3
2012 Third Place 3rd 4 2 1 1 4 2
2014 did not participate
2021 Cancelled
2022 Runners-Up 2nd 6 4 1 1 7 3
2026 To be determined
2027
2028
2029
Total 3/3 Third Place 13 7 3 3 14 7

UNAF U-17 Tournament record

UNAF U-17 Tournament
Appearances: 11 / 13
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
2006 Did not participate
2007 Champions 1st 3 2 1 0 5 1
2008 Third Place 3rd 3 1 0 2 3 5
2008 Fifth Place 5th 4 1 1 2 3 4
2009 Runners-up 2nd 3 1 1 1 3 3
2009 Third Place 3rd 2 0 2 0 1 1
2010 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 1 2 1 5
2011 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 2 0
2012 Did not participate
2012 Third Place 3rd 2 1 0 1 1 1
2014 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 3 4
2015 Third Place 3rd 2 0 1 1 2 4
2016 Fifth Place 5th 3 1 1 1 7 5
2017 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 1 2 4 5
2018 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 7 2
2018 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 1 0 11 2
2021 Withdrew
2022 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 1 1 4 1
2022 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 5 1
2024 Third Place 3rd 4 1 2 1 5 6
2024 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 2 0 10 4
2026 To be determined
Total 4 Titles 18/22 53 22 16 15 77 54
  • Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[21]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Chouaib Bellaarouch (2008-02-10)10 February 2008 (aged 17) Mohammed VI Football Academy
2 2DF Hamza Bouhadi (2008-10-07)7 October 2008 (aged 16) FUS Rabat
3 2DF Ilyas El Arbaoui (2008-05-04)4 May 2008 (aged 16) Athletic Club
4 2DF Joseph Bellahsen (2008-12-28)28 December 2008 (aged 16) Borussia Mönchengladbach
5 2DF Nassim El Massoudi (2008-02-19)19 February 2008 (aged 17) Bayer 04 Leverkusen
6 3MF Elyes Saïdi (2008-12-15)15 December 2008 (aged 16) Auxerre
7 4FW Ibrahim Rabbaj (2009-01-03)3 January 2009 (aged 16) Chelsea
8 3MF Abdellah Ouazane (2009-01-15)15 January 2009 (aged 16) Ajax FC
9 4FW Ziyad Baha (2009-08-10)10 August 2009 (aged 15) Real Betis
10 3MF Amine Ouahabi (2008-07-04)4 July 2008 (aged 16) KV Mechelen
11 4FW Ilies Belmokhtar (2008-05-12)12 May 2008 (aged 16) AS Monaco
12 1GK Yassine Laghirisi (2008-02-24)24 February 2008 (aged 17) FC Rouen
13 2DF Driss Ait Cheikh (2008-07-17)17 July 2008 (aged 16) Chippo Football Club
14 2DF Ilyas Hidaoui (2008-04-13)13 April 2008 (aged 16) Mohammed VI Football Academy
15 2DF Ahmed Mouhoub (2008-01-04)4 January 2008 (aged 17) FUS Rabat
16 3MF Adam Soudi (2009-03-18)18 March 2009 (aged 16) Toulouse FC
17 4FW Adam Jout (2008-01-23)23 January 2008 (aged 17) Mohammed VI Football Academy
18 4FW Zakari El Khalfioui (2008-02-27)27 February 2008 (aged 17) Ajaccio
19 4FW Alí El Failali (2008-06-12)12 June 2008 (aged 16) Málaga
20 3MF Ismail El Aoud (2009-07-01)1 July 2009 (aged 15) Valencia
21 2DF Adam Alioui (2009-06-29)29 June 2009 (aged 15) Lyon
22 1GK Soufiane Elidrisi (2008-02-22)22 February 2008 (aged 17) Mohammed VI Football Academy
23 2DF Moncef Zekri (2008-09-20)20 September 2008 (aged 16) KV Mechelen
24 3MF Luis Velilles (2009-04-28)28 April 2009 (aged 15) Real Betis
25 3MF Amine Amgar (2008-10-13)13 October 2008 (aged 16) MVV Maastricht
26 3MF Mohamed Mounssef (2008-06-12)12 June 2008 (aged 16) Wydad AC

Honours

International

Quarter-finals: 2023, 2025

Continental

Winners (1): 2025
Runners-up (1): 2023

Regional

Runners-up (1): 2022
Third Place (1): 2012
Winners (4): 2007, 2011, 2018, 2022
Runners-up (3): 2009, 2014, 2018
Third Place (4): 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015

Previous squads

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Morocco's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
 Croatia 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00
 Ecuador 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 000.00
 Indonesia 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00
 Iran 1 0 1 0 1 1 +0 000.00
 Ivory Coast 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 000.00
 Japan 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 000.00
 Mali 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 000.00
 New Caledonia 1 1 0 0 16 0 +16 100.00
 Panama 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 100.00
 Portugal 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6 000.00
 Uzbekistan 1 0 1 0 0 0 +0 000.00
Total 12 5 2 5 30 18 +12 041.67

References

  1. ^ "Morocco's U17 national team misses Arab Cup title, losing to Algeria". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  2. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "TotalEnergies U17 AFCON: Morocco edge Nigeria to make quarters | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  3. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "TotalEnergies U17 AFCON: Second half resurgence lifts Morocco over South Africa | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  4. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "TotalEnergies U17 AFCON: Zambia down Morocco in Annaba but exit | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  5. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Morocco stun Algeria in Constantine, earn U17 World Cup slot | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  6. ^ "Morocco U-17 team qualifies for World Cup with 3-0 win over Algeria". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  7. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Benrhozil heroics send Morocco to Totalenergies U17 AFCON final | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  8. ^ "Morocco's U-17 football team reaches African Cup final in thrilling penalty shootout against Mali". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  9. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Sawane scores winner as Senegal clinch TotalEnergies U17 AFCON title | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  10. ^ "Morocco's under 17 Team loses to Senegal in the final of the African Cup of Nations". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  11. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Burkina Faso's Alio named TotalEnergies U17 AFCON MVP | TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  12. ^ "Morocco qualified for U-17 World Cup final 16". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  13. ^ "Barry scores brace as Mali beat Mexico 5-0 to reach U17 World Cup quarter-final". sportsbrief.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  14. ^ "Morocco qualified for U-17 World Cup final 16". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  15. ^ "Morocco's U17 eliminated from World Cup". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  16. ^ MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-04-06). "Morocco tops Tanzania 3-0 to reach U17 Africa Cup quarterfinals, clinches World Cup spot". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  17. ^ MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-04-10). "Morocco U-17 Advances to Africa Cup Semi-Finals After 3-1 Victory Over South Africa". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  18. ^ MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-04-15). "Morocco U-17 book spot in AFCON final after penalty win over Côte d'Ivoire". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  19. ^ MASAITI, Amira EL (2025-04-19). "Morocco clinches historic U-17 Africa Cup of Nations title". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  20. ^ "16-goal Morocco make history". FIFA. 2025-11-09. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  21. ^ "Morocco U17 Squad".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.