Morocco U-20 Profile: Atlas Cubs chase second title in Egypt

CAF

23-04-2025

Published: Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Morocco arrive at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2025 as one of the leading contenders to lift the title.
Drawn into a competitive Group B with Nigeria, Tunisia and Kenya, the Atlas Cubs are determined to capitalise on the country's growing youth development reputation.
With their only U-20 title dating back to 1997, Morocco are eager to end a 28-year wait and reaffirm their standing among the continent's elite.
Below is the fill profile:
MOROCCO
Morocco's U-20 team is one of the top candidates to lift the trophy in Egypt.
The Atlas Cubs will be housed in Group B, along with Nigeria, Tunisia and Kenya. Winner of this tournament for the only time in 1997, the Cherifian Kingdom hopes to reconnect with this trophy and thus reward the efforts that the country has made in recent years to become a leader in the training of young footballers on the continent.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Morocco qualified for the finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations by winning the UNAF zonal tournament held in November 2024 in Egypt.
HISTORY IN THE TOTALENERGIES CAF U-20 AFCON
Morocco will play in Egypt, its seventh TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. In addition to winning the trophy in 1997, the Atlas Cubs have been quarter-finalists three times. They were also third in 1987 and fourth in 2005.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Naoufel El Hannach – Paris Saint Germain Espoir defender Naoufel El Hannach (18 years old) is one of the key elements of the Moroccan selection. He is a rough defender who also knows how to be valuable during his offensive comebacks, as illustrated by his goal against Libya in the qualifying tournament of the UNAF zone.
Saâd El Haddad – Aged 19, Saâd El Haddad is one of the main figures of the Moroccan attack. With two goals, he finished as the team's top scorer in the UNAF zone qualification tournament. A lot of hopes rest on the shoulders of the Venizia player in Serie A. With his immense talent, he has the means to meet the expectations placed on him.
COACH AND TACTICAL APPROACH
Mohammed Ouahbi will be in charge of leading the Moroccan team to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Egypt. The 48-year-old technician appointed head of this selection in March 2022 has only one ambition: to bring the trophy back to Morocco.
To achieve this, the UEFA Pro Licence holder will rely on his philosophy based on ball possession. The former coach of the Anderlecht youth academy in Belgium likes to see his team master the game but at the same time be effective on the offensive side.
TOURNAMENT AMBITIONS AND GROUP ANALYSIS
Morocco will arrive in Egypt with the clear intention of bringing the trophy home.
He will be called upon to raise the level in a difficult group where he rubs shoulders with Nigeria, the most successful team of the tournament with seven trophies to its credit, Tunisia and Kenya.