Goal Programme - Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football - 2002

Football is by far and away the number one sport in Morocco. The national association can reflect on countless highlights in its almost 50-year history. In 1976, the senior national team triumphed in the African Cup of Nations. The Moroccans won the African Youth Championship (U-20) in 1997 and thus qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia where they finished in 11th place. The senior team has reached the FIFA World Cup? finals four times (1970, 1986, 1994, 1998), the African Cup of Nations finals 13 times and the Olympic Football Tournament on seven occasions. Moreover, Morocco won gold medals in the football tournaments at the Mediterranean Games in 1983 and the Pan-Arab Games in 1960 and 1970. The nation has also cultivated a wealth of gifted footballers. Faras Ahmed won the African Ballon d'Or in 1976, a feat that was repeated by Bedou Ezaki in 1985 and Mohamed Timoumi in 1986.

At its meeting on 15 October 2003, the Goal Bureau approved a project to build a technical centre in Rabat. Work at this football complex will primarily focus upon educating coaches, referees and officials and on developing young players. The association already pays a great deal of attention to the development of promising players and the new facilities will allow these efforts to be raised to another level. Funds from the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme have also been earmarked to cover part of the costs for the technical centre.