ZAKI :

Morocco has produced good goalkeepers over the years. The best of them all was Badou Zaki. He was among the first goalkeepers to command the entire penalty area and did it with unmatched confidence and reliability. He was equally impressive on the goal line with stunning reflexes and plasticity, which made him nearly flawless. It was at Wydad club he started to show his class. In 1979,he became the goalkeeper of the Moroccan selection, which was in renewal phase. He won several titles on the level of the national Championship and the Cup of the Throne. Zaki experienced his greatest weeks as a footballer when he conceded 2 goals in Mexico 86 .He pulled off what many considered one the finest saves in the history of world cup. Morocco played West Germany in round 16, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge kicked the ball down towards Zaki who managed to catch it with his outstreched hands. Despite this save, Morocco lost 1-0. The famous Luis Arconnada hailed Zaki as the best keeper in the world. One of the proudest moments in his career was when he won the African Player of the Year award in 1986. He stayed on in Spain after the 1986 World Cup with Mallorca, where he added his name to an elite group of keepers who have taken on legendary status for their specialist shootouts saves skills. The Spanish media lavished praise on goalkeeper Zaki after his heroics saving Sanchez and Koeman penalties. In 1991, he inspired Mallorca club to a first ever-Spanish Cup final, but unfortunately failed to win the title. Zaki is certainly one of the most gifted goalkeepers ever to play the game, and although he played one world cup, he still ranks among the list of all-time greats such Lev Yahcine, Banks, Zoff and Mayer.

DOLMY ABDELMAJID:
Abdelmajid Dolmy, born in Casablanca, played most of his career for his hometown club Raja. He was only 17 when he was called up to the national team squad for the first time and stayed there for the next 18 years.With an eye for the perfect pass, Dolmy is probably the best midfielder in Moroccan soccer history. Nicknamed "maalem''the maestro" he was a gentleman on and off the field and never got sent off or suspended in his long career, much thanks to his ability to read the game. He was well-liked by everyone involved in soccer as he always was abiding the rules and appeared with class on the field. With Raja of Casablanca, he was part of some of the best clubteams African football has ever seen. In 1986, he was instrumental as Morocco outplayed every team that stood in their way until the round 16 when West Germany won 1-0.He retired from the national team 2 years after the World Cup. Dolmy is laureate of the UNESCO fair play prize.

NAYBET:
The master of the sweeper's position, Noureddine Naybetachieved legendary status in the game operating as probably the best defender Africa has ever seen. Elegant and confident on the ball, tactically superb and a great leader, Naybet is a superstar in every sense of the word. He won more than a century of caps for Morocco and captained his country in 2 World Cups.He has always organized the Moroccan defense with a skill worthy of an international star of his caliber. Started out with WAC Casablanca, where he won three domestic championships and the African Champions League in 1992. Subsequently spent a season in France with FC Nantes Atlantique, and then two years with Sporting Club de Portugal - winning the Portuguese Cup in 1994/95. In 1996 he moved to La Corua and became a stalwart of a Deportivo side chasing honours at home and in Europe. Helped the Galician club secure a first Spanish title in 1999/00, and was also

part of the team that beat Real Madrid CF to lift the Spanish Cup two seasons late. His powerful long runs out of central defense had probably never seen before... Rarely, that we find a sweeper whose job is not only being in his, opponents' half of the field, but scoring as well. Noureddine Naybet is one of very few Moroccan players at top international level to have spent 6 years career at one club. At present, he is still playing for Deportivo La Coruna.

BEN MBAREK:
Those who saw him playing say: without the war, Larbi Ben Barek would have been recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of football. He had all the talents and gifts: touch of the ball, vision play, heading, dribbling, stature, and style. Poor and orphaned at an early age, Larbi was an attacker who had a dream that he would later transfer to the field with some of the most unbelievably agile goals and passes ever seen in the football world. His success with the US Moroccan team playing with players as great as Zatelli and Janin, Just Fontaine, Chicha and the Mahjoub brothers attracted the attention of the Olympic of Marseille which he joined in 1938. Arrived unknown during summer 38, Kohut scored at the first minute a goal laid on by Ben Barek who scored 2 more by the time, the first game of the season against Racing of Paris, was over. And what a match it was (5-2,September 4). He overwhelmed Sindelar of Austria, Sarosi of Hungary and the French selection of Veinante, Nicolas, and Heisserer. Three months later, on the 4th of December in Naples, Larbi the-exceptionally gifted played his first game for France against Italy who were double world champions (0-1). The team of France at the following game thrashed Poland (4-0, January 22.1939), he offered a goal on a plate to Zatelli with this comment: "Here for you, Mr Mario..." Larbi was held in high esteem, and enjoyed tremendous respect that, when his club stade de France wanted to transfer him to Atletico of Madrid in 1948, a French journalist wrote Sell the Arch of Triumph or the Eiffel Tower, but do not sell Ben Bar ek. Larbi left France and played for the prestigious Atletico of Madrid. There, he formed with Herrera the deadliest attacking force in Spanish football history and rediscovered the path to the net, scoring 9 goals during his second game against Racing Santander, 56 goals in 113 appearances before he sealed his spell at Spain with two Champion titles 1950/51. At the ripe old age of 40, he played the 1954 French Cup final with the O.M. A few months later, (October 16,1954) France faced in Hanover Germany the new world champion, who they ripped apart, beating them 3-1 with Larbi who played for France for 15 interval years. Exceptional longevity due without any doubt to a very healthy way of life, where alcohol and the tobacco were shunned. At the time of his return to Marseilles (1954-56), he lived in Prier Boulevard and walked everyday to the Vlodrome stadium for his training sessions. He never refused a snap shot or a word of encouragement from his fans. In 1992 September 16th, the Black Pearl died in Casablanca. Larbi Ben Barek carried the torch of legends during his time with Olympic of Marseilles, Atletico of Madrid and French national team. He carried it with grace, dignity and a great love for the game. In return the Moroccans and footballing World legends such as Pele, who offered him his famous number 10 shirt, had taken Larbi Ben Barek into their hearts forever. And it goes without saying that Ben Barek was without any shadow of doubt - the definitive footballing genius.

1986:
Morocco having held the Polish to a goalless draw in their opening game, they again frustrated their more experienced European opponents the English in a nil-nil draw. The Moroccans then provided the shock of the group. It was June 11th 1986 in Guadalajara in Mexico. Morocco had accumulated 2 points. Zaki's squad had its own destiny in its hands, needing a win or draw against

Portugal to advance. It was heavily favored to defeat Morocco in a match dismissed by many in the Portuguese mediaand reportedly by some of its players as a mere stop on the road to the round of 16. As it turned out, in a historic first, Morocco beat Portugal in a World Cup knockout match and advanced to the secound round. The win had significance in that it was the first time that an African team take the top place in their group and progressed to the next round. It was engrossing, moving, difficult and it was a fantastic spectacle.Fans in Morocco poured out onto the streets in celebration. In Monterrey, the Germans, like England, Poland and Portugal in the first round, found the Moroccans to be a well-organised and capable side. With luck on their side, and with the Moroccans left ruing the missed opportunities, the West Germans were to go through to the quarter-finals as they snatched victory with a Lothar Matthaus goal from a free kick with just one minute remaining of normal time. Four years Later,Cameroun made it to the queterfinals in Italy. Usa 94 & FRANCE 98: After the disappointment of the modest participation in World Cup 1994 in USA, The atlas lions came back to world cup in 1998 with a burning desire to overcome and make better, to honor their country and the hole the black continent. Although given as an outsider in a group of giants, Morocco sent a clear sign to its group challengers by making a 2-2 draw in the opening match against Norway, Moroccans tenaciously battled against the athletic Norwegian players, considered favorites by the international bookmakers, and deserved the victory, but some mistakes in the defense made them miss the 3 wining points. In their second game the Moroccans were confident to conquer the Brazilians team, but despite high-quality game given by Moroccans, the supremacy of the best team in the history of football was respected, and the lions lost. But Morocco was confident to pass to the next stage. In their third game they dominated Scotland easily with a large victory of 3-0, and all they have to do is to wait for a draw or a victory of the great Brazil against Norway. But the unbelievable happened, and Brazil lost. The continent was in tears denouncing the unfair of Brazilians who could win easily if they needed it. But in the same time, saluting the courage of the brave lions Hadji, Bassir, Camacho, and the others who gave the world a good image of Arab and African football.

1976:

It was 1976, Romanian Gheorge Madarescou steered the Atlas Lions to their first Africa Nations Cup in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was hailed as a "historic day", ' all for one, one for all' could have been their motto. With an impenetrable defense, and magnific attack, Faras, the first Moroccan winner of the golden ball, give Morocco the opportunity and honour of lifting the African Cup trophy. For a country that represented the continent at the World Cup as early as 1970, the Atlas Lions were late starters as they could only manage their maiden appearance at the 1972 edition and were thrown out in the first round. They failed to qualify for the next edition and had to wait for another four years before making another try for the coveted trophy.

Incidentally though, that marked the turning point for Morocco, as they surpassed all expectations by winning the Nations Cup in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The win was achieved courtesy the presence of some of the finest players that ever graced the pitches of the African continent, the foremost being the mercurial Ahmed Faras who rated as one of the deadliest strikers in the 1970s. For five consecutive years Faras featured prominently in Africa's annual Footballer of the Year poll from 1972 to 1976. He was winner of the coveted prize in 1976. Thus Morocco attended Ethiopia '76 with Africa's best player even though the Atlas Lions were rated amongst the outsiders despite having attended the World Cup six years earlier. Defending champions Zaire (now Congo DR) who were at the World Cup in Germany in 1974 were top shots and were tipped to retain the Cup they won in Egypt. As fate would have it, Morocco and Zaire played in Group B in Dire Dawa alongside 1970 champions Sudan and second timers Nigeria. They got up to a deceptive start when they drew 2-2 with Sudan but the Atlas Lions picked up the next game, accruing full points after a late goal gave them a 1-0 victory over the highly rated Zairians. That spelt the beginning of a revival for the Moroccans who went ahead to win the group, following a 3-1 defeat of Nigeria. Though, Nigeria scored within the first five minutes of the game, it was the mercurial Faras that equalized three minutes later to pave way for a comfortable victory. The Moroccans who needed just a draw went ahead to pip Guinea who needed a victory in the final round in Addis Ababa. The Guineans led by the skillful Papa Camara were heading for victory until the never-say-die Faras struck three minutes to the end of the encounter to bring scores to 1-1. Why they failed to do it again ? It is certainly no fluke that Morocco's national football team has topped the African ranking list for many past years. With brilliant coaches and several top-quality players in highly competitive European leagues, there is no denying the class of the Moroccan team. Morocco's lack of success at African level is a national debate; time and again football critics Africa over have reasoned that the generation of unquestionable individual talent as Zaki, Bouderbala, Timoumi, Dolmy, Haji, Naybet, Bassir, Shippo should have won at least 2 titles. Bad luck or failure. The criticism has not stopped, and the answers still not found. So where does all go wrong for the Atlas lions in battles on African soils ? MOROCCAN STADIUMS: Med V Address: Casablanca Net Capacity (VIP and media places not included): 45.000 seat. Works Status: Renovation July 2005-December 2007. The stadium was built in 1955 has been renovated several times since then. Mohamed V is the oldest home of Moroccan football. It holds a place in African and Moroccan football history. It staged some of the most glamorous showpieces of the International teams both national and local. It has a seating

capacity of 50,000. The stadium facilities will be renovated and modernized to correspond to the highest standards of safety and the recommendations of FIFA.

COMPLEXE MY ABDELLAH RABAT :

Address: Route de Casablanca, Rabat. Net Capacity (VIP and media places not included): 47,000 seats. Works Status: Stadium is ready. Constructed in 1981, the stadium is part of a sporting complex. The stadium was a venue for some memorable football matches. It has hosted numerous national and international events in the past. The stadium enjoys a fantastic access thanks to its location. A 15 minutes car journey from downtown Rabat. The stadium has a capacity of 52,000 seats .Its main stand is covered with a roof and its superb turf was imported from France.

FES:
Address: Route de Sefrou, Fs. Net Capacity (VIP and media places not included): 45.000 seat. Works Status: Renovation July 2005-December 2007 The architecture of the Fes stadium aims to reflect the citys rich heritage. The stadium have a capacity of 45, 000 seats. Construction ended and the stadium was dedicated in 2002. The main stand is covered with a roof. The stadium is set to become one of the jewels of World Cup 2010

AGADIR:
Address: Agadir Net Capacity (VIP and media places not included): 40.000 seats. Works Status: Under construction December 2003-December 2007.

The soccer-specific stadium is a design masterpiece with its main stand covered. It will seat 45,000. The ground will have a real football 'feel' with the nearest seats only 5m from the pitch, and will create a unique atmosphere, which should be enjoyed by visiting teams.

Marrakech:
Address: Marrakech. Net Capacity (VIP and media places not included): 61.000 seat. Works Status: Under construction September 2003- June 2007. Soccer fans in Marrakech will have a new point of pride, when their second soccer-specific stadium opens.Set for unveiling in June 2007, the stadium will be constructed in the mythical English way and will seat 70,000 spectators who would really feel the sensation of being close to the field, something which is enhanced by the exceptional acoustics, which add to the spectacle and the emotion. The stadium will have the honour of hosting the opening ceremony and one semi-final match.

INTERESTING FACTS:

First African country to reach Euro-african stopping matchs in World Cup qualifiers First African country to reach the 2nd Round of a World Cup competition First African country bidding for the organisation of the World Cup First African referee in a World Cup Final Match.

Morocco Vs. Spain 1961

Mexico 1986 World Cup 1994 France Vs Brazil 1998

Switzerland 1954 First country having a player in the (Abderrahman Final Round of the World Cup Belmahjoub with French team) Only nation to be elected 3 times 1997 - 1998 - 1999 "Best Football Nation) by FIFA. First African country participating Raja Casablan to the World Clubs Championship