2025 Emerges as Landmark Year for Moroccan Sports with Historic Achievements Across Disciplines

Rabat, The Gulf Observer: The year 2025 has emerged as a defining chapter in Moroccan sporting history, marked by unprecedented success across a wide range of disciplines and levels of competition. Moroccan athletes and teams delivered outstanding performances on continental and global stages, underlining not only the volume of trophies won but also the breadth and sustainability of the country’s sporting progress.

Football stood at the forefront of Morocco’s achievements, with remarkable success recorded at youth, senior and club levels. The momentum began in May when Morocco’s Under-17 team captured the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, highlighting the strength and depth of the national youth development system. The achievement was further amplified in October, when the Atlas Cubs made history by winning their first-ever FIFA Under-20 World Cup, defeating Argentina 2–0 in the final in Chile.

Youth success continued at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Under-17 tournament, where Morocco secured its maiden continental title after defeating Mali on penalties following a goalless final in Mohammedia.

At senior level, Morocco claimed the African Nations Championship (CHAN) title with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Madagascar. The reserve national side also added the FIFA Arab Cup to the country’s honours in December, edging Jordan 3–2 in the final.

Moroccan club football enjoyed notable success as well, with AS FAR reclaiming the CAF Women’s Champions League title in November after a 2–1 victory over ASEC Mimosas. Off the pitch, Morocco further strengthened its reputation by successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, demonstrating its organisational capacity and reinforcing its status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.

Individual excellence was recognised at the 2025 CAF Awards, where Achraf Hakimi became the first defender in 52 years to be named African Player of the Year. Ghizlane Chebbak also made history as the first Moroccan woman to win the African Women’s Player of the Year award.

Morocco’s sporting success extended well beyond football. In athletics, Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali continued his dominance in the 3,000-metre steeplechase, winning at the Monaco Diamond League, recording the world’s best performance of the year at the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting in Rabat, and securing a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

In combat sports, Saïd Oubaya claimed gold in the men’s kumite -67 kg at the 2025 World Games in China and was named Best Athlete of the Year. Moroccan boxers delivered a clean sweep at the 6th African Military Boxing Championship, winning all 10 gold medals on offer. Meanwhile, Amina Dehhaoui was crowned Under-21 Taekwondo World Champion in Kenya in December.

Mixed martial arts also witnessed a historic breakthrough, as Salah Eddine Hamli became Morocco’s first PFL MENA champion, capturing the lightweight title with a second-round finish to maintain an unbeaten professional record of 11–0.

Women’s futsal added another milestone to the year’s achievements, with Morocco’s national team lifting the 2025 Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, further underscoring the country’s growing success in women’s sports.

Overall, 2025 has highlighted Morocco’s emergence as a multi-sport powerhouse, reflecting years of investment in development, infrastructure and talent. The sustained success across football, athletics, combat sports and emerging disciplines points to the establishment of a winning sporting culture that continues to deliver results at the highest levels.