Morocco national under-23 football team

Summer Olympics (1964–2004)

Morocco's first appearance was in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In a group that consisted of three teams following North Korea's withdrawal. They suffered a heavy 0-6 defeat to Hungary - Morocco's all-time heaviest defeat to date -, then lost 1-3 to Yugoslavia and were eliminated.

Their second appearance was supposed to be during the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico but Morocco refused to allow its team to play against Israel in Group C due to political issues.^[2] They were eventually replaced by Ghana which lost 2-3 on aggregate to Morocco in the last qualifying round.

In the 1972 edition in Munich, Morocco reached the second round as runners-up in their group with 3 points following a goalless draw against the United States, a resounding 6-0 win against Malaysia and a 0-3 loss to hosts West Germany. In the second round, The Atlas Lions lost all three games against Denmark, Poland and the Soviet Union. However, it was the best performance of the Atlas Lions at the Olympic football tournament until 2024.

Morocco came extremely close to reaching the quarter-finals in the 2004 Summer Olympics, narrowly missing out on goals scored that favored Costa Rica. Morocco were 2-1 ahead in their final group game against already-qualified Iraq thanks to goals scored by Bouabid Bouden and Salaheddine Aqqal. However, in the other game, Costa Rica's Pablo Brenes scored the fourth goal in added time to seal a 4-2 win over Portugal and qualification at Morocco's expense.^[3]

First Continental Final

During the inaugural 2011 CAF U-23 Championship held in Morocco.^[4] The host nation coached by Pim Verbeek, recorded narrow 1-0 victories against both Nigeria and Algeria, before losing to Senegal.^[5] In the semi-finals, Morocco successfully secured a spot in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by defeating Egypt 3-2 in a tense game which also saw Abdelaziz Barrada scoring the fastest goal in the history of the tournament to date after just 30 seconds. This marked the return of the Atlas Lions to the Olympic football tournament having missed out on qualifying in 2008.^[6] However, they faced a setback when they suffered a 2-1 defeat against the surprising contender, Gabon, in the final held at the Marrakech Stadium.^[7]

Golden generation (2022–)

On 7 July 2022, Morocco were awarded the hosting rights of the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, marking the return of the U-23 team to the competition for the first time in 12 years.^[8][9][10] Their campaign kicked off on a positive note with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Guinea,^[11] followed by a resounding 5-1 triumph over Ghana, emerging as group winners and securing a place in the semifinals with one game to spare.^[12][13] They went on to win the semi-final against Mali and qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.^[14][15] They defeated Egypt 2-1 in the final to win their first ever continental title.^[16][17] The team was congratulated by King Mohammed VI for their achievement.^[18][19]

On 29 February 2024, Tarik Sektioui was appointed head coach of the men's Olympic squad by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.^[20] In Paris 2024, Morocco debuted in group B with a 2–1 victory against Argentina,^[21] followed by a 2–1 defeat against Ukraine and a 3–0 victory against Iraq.^[22][23] Topping their group with six points ahead of Argentina on the head-to-head record, Morocco thus reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1972. They defeated the United States 4-0 in the quarterfinals, reaching the semifinals for the first time ever.^[24] In the semifinal, Morocco lost 2–1 against Spain.^[25] They then won 6–0 against Egypt in the third place to win the bronze medal.^[26]

2023

Morocco  v  Brazil

7 September Friendly	Morocco	1–0	Brazil	Fez, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1	El Ouahdi 73'			Stadium: Fez Stadium Referee: Sow Sandigui (Senegal)

Morocco  v  Brazil

11 September Friendly	Morocco	Cancelled	Brazil	Fez, Morocco
				Stadium: Fez Stadium

Morocco  v  Iraq

12 October Friendly	Morocco	0–1	Iraq	Casablanca, Morocco
		Report	Al-Hamawi 42'	Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium

Morocco  v  Dominican Republic

16 October Friendly	Morocco	3–1	Dominican Republic	Casablanca, Morocco
	Begraoui 60' Jaouab 70' El Ouazzani 88'	Report	Gómez 36'	Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium

Morocco  v  Denmark

16 November Friendly	Morocco	0–3	Denmark	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
15:00		Report	Bundgaard 8' Osula 16' Bech 78'	Stadium: Pinatar Arena

Morocco  v  United States

21 November Friendly	Morocco	1–0	United States	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
15:00	Nadir 31'	Report		Stadium: Pinatar Arena

2024

Ukraine  v  Morocco

22 March Friendly	Ukraine	1–0	Morocco	Antalya, Turkey
		Report		Stadium: Gloria Sports Arena

Morocco  v  Wales

26 March Friendly	Morocco	2–0	Wales	Antalya, Turkey
	Igamane	Report		Stadium: Gloria Sports Arena

Morocco  v  Belgium

4 June Friendly	Morocco	2–2	Belgium	Rabat, Morocco
	Kechta 63' Maouhoub 90'	Report	Smets 42' Dwomoh 53'	Stadium: Moulay Hassan Stadium

Morocco  v  Kosovo

10 June Friendly	Morocco	Cancelled	Kosovo	Rabat, Morocco
				Stadium: Moulay Hassan Stadium

Argentina  v  Morocco

24 July 2024 Summer Olympics Group B	Argentina	1–2	Morocco	Saint-Étienne, France
15:00	Simeone 68'	Report	Rahimi 45+2', 51' (pen.)	Stadium: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard Attendance: 26,717 Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)

Ukraine  v  Morocco

27 July 2024 Summer Olympics Group B	Ukraine	2–1	Morocco	Saint-Étienne, France
17:00	Kryskiv 22' Krasnopir 90+8'	Report	Rahimi 64' (pen.)	Stadium: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard Attendance: 28,655 Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

Morocco  v  Iraq

30 July 2024 Summer Olympics Group B	Morocco	3–0	Iraq	Nice, France
17:00	Richardson 19' Rahimi 28' Ezzalzouli 36'	Report		Stadium: Allianz Riviera Attendance: 19,300 Referee: Ramon Abatti (Brazil)

Morocco  v  United States

2 August 2024 Summer Olympics QF	Morocco	4–0	United States	Paris, France
15:00	Rahimi 29' (pen.) Akhomach 63' Hakimi 70' Maouhoub 90+1' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Parc des Princes Attendance: 42,868 Referee: Yael Falcón (Argentina)

Morocco  v  Spain

5 August 2024 Summer Olympics SF	Morocco	1–2	Spain	Marseille, France
18:00	Rahimi 37' (pen.)	Report	F. López 65' Juanlu 86'	Stadium: Stade de Marseille Attendance: 59,882 Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

Egypt  v  Morocco

8 August 2024 Summer Olympics Bronze	Egypt	0–6	Morocco	Nantes, France
17:00		Report	Ezzalzouli 23' Rahimi 26', 64' El Khannouss 51' Nakach 73' Hakimi 87'	Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire Attendance: 27,391 Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the friendly matches against Ivory Coast on 26 and 30 March 2026.^[27]

Caps and goals correct as of 30 March 2026, after the match against Ivory Coast.

More information No., Pos. ...

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Yanis Benchaouch	(2006-04-10) 10 April 2006 (age 20)	1	0	Monaco[a]
12	1GK	Hakim Mesbahi	(2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 20)	0	0	AS FAR
22	1GK	Aymean el Hani	(2007-05-09) 9 May 2007 (age 18)	1	0	Ajax
2	2DF	Ali Maamar	(2005-03-23) 23 March 2005 (age 21)	2	0	Anderlecht
3	2DF	Youssef Enríquez	(2005-10-07) 7 October 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Deportivo Alavés
5	2DF	Amine Chabane	(2006-08-15) 15 August 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Amiens
7	2DF	Adam Aznou	(2006-06-02) 2 June 2006 (age 19)	2	1	Everton
13	2DF	Taha Majni	(2007-10-11) 11 October 2007 (age 18)	2	0	UTS Rabat
15	2DF	Fouad Zahouani	(2006-04-18) 18 April 2006 (age 20)	2	0	UTS Rabat
20	2DF	Mohammed Zindin Kebdani	(2006-05-13) 13 May 2006 (age 19)	1	0	AS FAR
23	2DF	Omar Achouitar	(2005-05-13) 13 May 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Vitesse
	2DF	Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal	(2006-04-16) 16 April 2006 (age 20)	1	0	Rennes
	2DF	Ilyass Mahsoub	(2006-05-19) 19 May 2006 (age 19)	0	0	USM Oujda
6	3MF	Naïm Byar	(2005-02-23) 23 February 2005 (age 21)	1	0	Wydad AC
8	3MF	Hossam Essadak	(2005-07-30) 30 July 2005 (age 20)	1	0	UTS Rabat
14	3MF	Anas Tajaouart	(2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Anderlecht
18	3MF	Yassine Khalifi	(2005-08-09) 9 August 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Royal Charleroi
19	3MF	Adam Tahaui	(2005-07-21) 21 July 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Vitesse
21	3MF	Abdellah Ouazane	(2009-01-15) 15 January 2009 (age 17)	1	0	Ajax
26	3MF	Youssef Hamdaoui	(2008-03-20) 20 March 2008 (age 18)	2	0	Royal Antwerp
	3MF	Saad El Haddad	(2005-07-24) 24 July 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Pineto
9	4FW	Younes El Bahraoui	(2005-01-04) 4 January 2005 (age 21)	1	0	KAC Marrakech
10	4FW	Mouad Dahak	(2005-07-22) 22 July 2005 (age 20)	2	1	Raja CA
11	4FW	Ilias Boumassaoudi	(2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 (age 21)	1	0	Den Bosch
17	4FW	Jones El-Abdellaoui	(2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 20)	2	0	Celta Vigo
23	4FW	Yusuf Akhamrich	(2005-09-05) 5 September 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Bristol Rovers
24	4FW	Sami Bouhoudane	(2008-01-13) 13 January 2008 (age 18)	1	0	PSV Eindhoven
	4FW	Elyèss Dao	(2006-11-20) 20 November 2006 (age 19)	1	0	Anderlecht
	4FW	Ali Houary	(2005-08-05) 5 August 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Mirandés
	4FW	Yassir Zabiri	(2005-02-23) 23 February 2005 (age 21)	1	0	Rennes
	4FW	Ayman Arguigue	(2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Villarreal

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Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Previous squads

Overage players in Olympic Games

Olympic Games

More information Olympic Games record, Year ...

Olympic Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
Until 1988	See Morocco national football team
1992	Group stage	15th	3	0	1	2	2	8
1996	Did not qualify
2000	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	1	7
2004	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	3	3
2008	Did not qualify
2012	Group stage	11th	3	0	2	1	2	3
2016	Did not qualify
2020
2024	Bronze medal	3rd	6	4	0	2	17	5
2028	To be determined
2032
Total	Bronze medal	5/9	18	5	4	9	25	26

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• Prior to the Barcelona 1992 campaign, the Football at the Summer Olympics was open to full senior national teams.

U-23 Africa Cup of Nations

More information U-23 Africa Cup of Nations record, Appearances: 2 ...

U-23 Africa Cup of Nations record
Appearances: 2
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2011	Runners-up	5	3	0	2	6	5
2015	Did not qualify
2019
2023	Champions	5	4	1	0	12	5
Total	2/4	10	7	1	2	18	10

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UNAF U-23 Tournament

More information UNAF U-23 Tournament record, Appearances: 3 / 4 ...

UNAF U-23 Tournament record
Appearances: 3 / 4
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2006	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2007	Third place	3rd
2010	Runners-up	2nd	3	2	0	1	6	3
2011	Third place	3rd	2	0	1	1	1	2
2015	Cancelled

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Islamic Solidarity Games

More information Islamic Solidarity Games record, Year ...

Islamic Solidarity Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2005	Silver Medal	2nd	5	2	2	1	4	2
2010	Cancelled
2013	Gold Medal	1st	4	3	0	1	6	3
2017	Group stage	5th	3	1	2	0	2	1
2021	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	5	4
2025	No football tournament held
Total	1 title	4/4	15	7	5	3	17	10

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