The Atlas Lions' Paradox  The Atlas Lions are under tremendous pressure to break an almost 50-year continental title drought after their historic 2022 World Cup semi-final performance.

 There is a paradox surrounding the Moroccan national football squad.  

The Atlas Lions are breaking records and bringing the continent together in 2022 as the first African and Arab team to ever advance to a FIFA World Cup semi-final.

 However, they continue to consistently perform below expectations within their own confederation.

 The main conundrum in African football is this: How can a team that won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) just have one trophy after defeating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal on the largest platform in the world?

 That one triumph occurred in 1976.  Since then, Morocco has developed talent in Europe's top leagues, generated many "golden generations," and spent billions in top-notch infrastructure.

 Never was this disparity more noticeable than at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.  Walid Regragui's team arrived as the heroes of Qatar and overwhelming tournament favorites, but they were shocked to lose to South Africa in the round of 16.

 As Morocco gets ready to host the event in 2025, competing is no longer the only goal for the country.  Its goal is to ultimately reconcile this contradiction and match their established international position with their continental status.  Never before has there been so much strain.

 What transpired during Morocco's only AFCON triumph in 1976?

 Morocco's sole regional victory is a holdover from a bygone age.  Their second-ever event had a special format and was held in Ethiopia in 1976.

 The top two teams from two groups went to a final round-robin group rather than a knockout bracket.  The team at the top of the final four-team standings was the champion.

 Morocco defeated Egypt and Nigeria to advance to the final group under the direction of Romanian coach Virgil Mărdărescu.  Guinea, which also had an opportunity to win the championship, was the opponent in the pivotal final match.

 Morocco simply required a draw at Addis Ababa on March 14, 1976.  Late in the game, Guinea took a 1-0 lead after scoring first.  

Ahmed "Baba" Makrouh secured the 1-1 tie and the title with a spectacular equalizer with four minutes left.

 Ahmed Faras, the team's captain, was recognized as the best player in the competition.  Few could have imagined that this victory, which was hailed from Casablanca to Marrakesh, would be their last for at least fifty years.

 What prevented the 1980s' "Golden Generation" from winning a title?

 Despite not winning the grand prize, Morocco's standing as a continental powerhouse was solidified in the 1980s.  

The "Golden Generation" of this era is well-known for its performances at the FIFA World Cup in Mexico in 1986.

 With players like 1986 African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Timoumi, midfielder Aziz Bouderbala, and goalkeeper Badou Zaki, Morocco became the first African country in history to win its World Cup group and move to the knockout rounds.

 However, this same strong team kept falling short on their home continent.

 In 1980, they finished in a respectable third position.  However, when they were at their best, they placed fourth in 1986 and 1988, the latter of which took place in their native Morocco.

 The frustrating motif that would characterize the squad for decades—international praise but continental disappointment—was created during this time.

 In the twenty-first century, how near have the Atlas Lions come?

 There have been heartbreaking near-misses and deep lows throughout the 49-year drought.  Since 2000, the team's path has been a wild one filled with fleeting optimism and recurrent setbacks.

 The Heartbreak in Tunisia in 2004

 At the 2004 AFCON, which was hosted by regional rivals Tunisia, Morocco came the closest to ending the curse.

 The squad, led by their renowned former goalie Badou Zaki, was dominant.  Under the leadership of players like Youssef Mokhtari and Youssef Hadji, they thrashed Mali 4-0 in a spectacular semi-final performance.

 They played the host country in the final at Radès' Stade 7 Novembre.  Morocco equalized after Tunisia seized the lead in a fierce, grueling final.  However, Tunisia scored once more to win 2-1.

 As Moroccan supporters saw their competitors hoist the trophy they had so nearly won, it was a devastating loss.  They wouldn't even win another AFCON knockout match for 13 years.

 A Decade of Disarray and Disqualification

 The Atlas Lions had a difficult time after the 2004 final.  They failed to live up to their talent pool and were eliminated in the group stages in 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2013.

 2015 was the very lowest point.  Due to concerns about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Morocco, which was supposed to host the tournament, asked that it be postponed.

 The proposal was turned down by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).  Following Morocco's withdrawal from hosting, CAF awarded the team a hefty punishment and banned them from any competition.

 The Knockout and Renard Revival Stumbles

 By signing Hervé Renard, a coach known for winning AFCON with Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015), Morocco started to restore its status on the continent.

 Prior to a close defeat to Egypt in 2017, Renard led Morocco to their first quarterfinal appearance since 13 years.

 With a team seen as one of the favorites in 2019, they were taken by surprise in the round of 16 after falling to Benin in a penalty shootout.  They lost to Egypt in the quarterfinals of the 2021 event, which was held in 2022.

 The trend was obvious: Morocco was too fragile to prevail in the tournament's high-pressure knockout stages, but powerful enough to advance.

Is the 2022 World Cup now a burden on the continent?

 Moroccan football was changed by the remarkable run in Qatar.  Only months after becoming command, Walid Regragui orchestrated a tactical miracle based on quick counterattacks and defensive steel.

 However, a new and enormous weight of expectation was brought about by this accomplishment.  Morocco was now the standard-bearer for a whole continent, not just a dark horse.

 Regragui said, "We have to change our mentality," after the World Cup.  "Winning the Africa Cup of Nations must be our main goal.  We won't travel only to take part.

 The AFCON Reality Check for 2023

 Their 2023 AFCON defeat was all the more unexpected given their new status.  Humidity, tough opponents, and the strain of being the hunted were the challenges of the Ivory Coast event.

 Morocco advanced to the round of 16 after defeating South Africa in the group stage.  Despite Achraf Hakimi missing a late penalty, they were completely outplayed and lost 2-0.

 The defeat served as a sobering reminder that AFCON is a distinct and harsh tournament.  Success on a global scale does not equate to domination on a region.

 What plan does Morocco have to remove the "AFCON Curse"?

 With the support of official funding, Morocco's football aspirations are now a central part of its national agenda.  The strategy to alleviate the AFCON shortage is long-term and multifaceted.

 Unprecedented Infrastructure Investment

 Under the direction of the powerful Fouzi Lekjaa, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has invested heavily in developing a sustainable footballing ecology.

 The Mohammed VI Football Complex is the focal point.  One of the most cutting-edge training facilities in the world, it opened in 2019 and is utilized by both national teams and to cultivate young, talented athletes.

 This is in addition to extensive stadium repair and building projects as Morocco gets ready to co-host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.

 Building a Pipeline for the "Golden Generation"

 The nation is not just depending on its present celebrities.  It is now constructing alternatives to them.

 Morocco's U-20 team's 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup victory is evidence of the effectiveness of its youth development initiatives.  This came after they won the U-23 AFCON, guaranteeing their spot in the 2024 Olympics.

 In order to keep the national team competitive for decades, the plan is to build a pipeline of top players.

 Walid Regragui and his "golden generation" of Hakimi, Ziyech, Bono, Ounahi, and En-Nesyri have a chance to achieve continental glory today with the 2025 Mandate: A Title on Home Soil.

Ziyech (Media )

 The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco.  There are no more justifications.  

They are the U-20 world champions, the hosts, and the current World Cup semi-finalists.

 From the Royal Palace down, everyone in the country is counting on triumph.  It will be considered a failure if they don't win the trophy in Rabat.  

The ultimate test of whether the Atlas Lions can finally put an end to their 49-year dilemma will be the 2025 tournament.