The prominent sports news outlet Foot Mercato selected four Atlas Lions–Moroccan National Team players—for the starting lineup of the 2023 African team, highlighting their exceptional contributions and impact on the global stage.
Before presenting the names, the article shed light on Morocco’s exceptional performance during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. One of the excerpts read, “2022 was obviously mainly marked by the World Cup, where Morocco made history reaching the semifinal against France.”
Leading the pack is Yassine Bounou, the standout goalkeeper, recognized as the best African goalkeeper of the year, 13th best player and 4th best goalkeeper of the world. He played a pivotal role in Sevilla’s Europa League victory, transferred to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and soon went on to become the league’s top goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded.
The defensive backbone of the team features big names of African football alongside the young International Nayef Aguered. The former Rennes star rose to prominence with West Ham last season while also proving indispensable for national team list. With the Hammers, he won the Europa League Conference.
“In the right-side position, we find, unsurprisingly, Achraf Hakimi,” said the writer. “He is a consistent force at right wing-back. He continues to shine at Paris Saint-Germain, displaying skill and effectiveness with 4 goals and 4 assists in 20 matches. The Moroccan is still one of the most talented players in the world at his position.
The Moroccan presence extends to Sofyan Amrabat, now with Manchester United, whose performance consistency is acknowledged, though he has experienced a mix of highs and lows.
The Moroccan dominance does not stop here. On the bench, honorable mentions go to the talented Youssef En-Nesyri and Bilal El Khannouss. These players represent the pinnacle of African football prowess in 2023, making a significant impact across top leagues around the globe.