Why are Morocco called ‘MAR’

Morocco's Atlas Lionesses' defied the odds at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Debuting in the competition, Morocco's women advanced from their group and faced France in a mouth-watering last-16 clash before bowing out with their heads held high. Lightning may not strike twice but Morocco has defied the odds at a World Cup once again; eight months…

Achraf Hakimi is a professional footballer who plays for the Morocco national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He mainly plays as a right-back. Known for his speed, runs and goal scoring ability, he is regarded as one of the best right-backs in world football. Hakimi's most remarkable moment at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was the impressive…

After one of the most spectacular finals to be witnessed in recent times, the FIFA World Cup 2022 came to an end in Qatar. Argentina defeated France in an epic final, in a penalty shootout last week, winning the title for the third time and reclaiming it after a gap of 36 years. Captain Lionel Messi got the trophy he desired, deserved and earned,…

After falling at the penultimate hurdle, Croatia and Morocco will be looking to end the World Cup on a high in Saturday's third-place play-off at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan (kick-off, 3pm GMT). Croatia were denied a place in a second successive World Cup final when they suffered a 3-0 defeat against a Lionel Messi-inspired…

Morocco have been the surprise package of the 2022 World Cup so far and the journey continues on Wednesday night when they face reigning champions France. Having helped dump Belgium, Spain and Portugal out of the tournament the Atlas Lions have done remarkably well to reach the semi-finals. But perhaps it's at Al Bayt Stadium where the journey will…

No nation has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962 but France are only two games away from becoming just the third side in history to complete this historic feat. The first of those games is a semi-final against Morocco in the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday night and it's a game France will expect to win. So, too, do the bookmakers who…

Kylian Mbappe celebrates France's victory over England. Photo / AP All you need to know ahead of the Fifa World Cup semifinal between France and Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday, December 15 (kickoff 8am): Morocco's improbable, history-making run at the World Cup is about to get its ultimate test. Africa's first World Cup semifinalist are…

Defending champions France will face surprise-package Morocco in their semi-final encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Thursday, December 15. Despite eliminating their neighbours Spain and Portugal, Morocco will head into a match that can only be juxtaposed with David and Goliath. The Atlas Lions are one more…

Appearing in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history, Morocco are major underdogs - but we've been saying that about the Atlas Lions throughout the tournament, haven't we? They face defending champions France, who are bidding to become the first country to retain the world title in 60 years. France and Morocco's World Cup 2022…

T was almost too much for a single football match. A former colonial power defended its title against the country it once occupied. Some members of one squad could just as well have played for their opponents in a clash of hyphenated identities. The underdogs embraced a symbol of regional struggle as their own, even as their countrymen argued about…

After Morocco won its quarter-final match against Portugal at the first world cup hosted by an Arab country, players and supporters could be seen waving a variety of flags: Morocco's green star-studded red banner, Qatar's maroon and white Al-Adaam, and Palestine's triangle-adorned tricolor. For a game entrenched in national identities and rich with…

The 2022 World Cup semi finals take place this week, with Argentina playing Croatia on Tuesday and France taking on Morocco on Wednesday. Betfair punters can get a £5 free builder when you bet a £5 bet builder on either semi final encounter, which you can claim here. Croatia shocked the world on Friday afternoon in their quarter final as they…

When underdogs Morocco take on champions France in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final as the first African or Arab nation to reach the last four in the history of the tournament, Raiss Tijani will be among thousands wildly cheering his team on. However, the fervent Atlas Lions fan will not be doing so from a stadium in Qatar - despite the fact that…

Lionel Messi and Luka Modric face off in a mouthwatering World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Croatia on Tuesday, desperate to seize their final chance to win football's ultimate prize. In the second semi-final on Wednesday, reigning champions France take on giant-killing Morocco, the first African team ever to reach the last four of a World…

France and Morocco reach the semifinals of the World Cup surrounded by great expectations, after the excellent performance they had in the quarterfinals. France reaches the elite of world football, among the four best teams in the tournament, after beating the good selection of England by 2-1. The English missed a penalty in the final minutes of…

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni brushed off accusations of poor sportsmanship on Monday as the Albiceleste prepared for a World Cup semi-final showdown against Croatia. After three weeks of pulsating action in Qatar, just four teams are left standing as the tournament heads into its home stretch. Lionel Messi and Argentina face Croatia in the first…

History-makers Morocco are two wins away from lifting a football World Cup trophy. The team is yet to be beaten at this year's tournament and has conceded just once - an own-goal against Canada in the group stages. Morocco has already gotten the better of big names such as Belgium, Spain and Portugal while drawing against Croatia. But standing…

The World Cup quarterfinals certainly did not disappoint, delivering nail-biting finishes, legendary individual performances, and historic upsets across the board. Looking ahead to the semi-finals, we could be in for two all-time matches, and FanDuel wants to help you make the most of it with an exclusive offer you won't want to miss. Claim…

Morocco have become the toast of world leaders, outstanding personalities and citizens from several countries across the globe after their historic feat, where the team reached the semi finals of the 2022 World Cup, the first for an African nation and Arab world as well since the inception of the tournament in 1930. Recall that the Atlas Lions…

Morocco beat Portugal on Saturday evening as Walid Regragui defied the odds to book place in the World Cup semi-finals against France. Youssef En-Nesyri's header won it for Morocco, who defended valiantly without star defenders Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss. Morocco have now become the first African team to ever reach the…

Ecstatic Moroccans poured into the streets of their capital and in cities across the North African country on Saturday, waving flags, honking horns and lighting flares to celebrate their historic victory over Portugal at the World Cup. Morocco beat the Portuguese 1-0 in Qatar, knocking Cristiano Ronaldo out of the tournament and making the Atlas…

Destiny is in your hands. Play the Opta Million, predict your bracket correctly and you could win $1 million. To give you an idea of how you could fill out your Opta Million bracket, Owuraku Ampofo takes us through his own predictions about what he expects will happen at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. France to surprisingly fall short at the group…

Not to be confused with the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) other flagship pan-African tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, countries competing in the CHAN can only select players who ply their trade in their own domestic leagues. That means, for example, that Algeria can't solicit the services of Riyad Mahrez and Senegal won't be able…