Morocco men's national basketball team

Morocco
Joined FIBA1936
FIBA zoneFIBA Africa
National federationMoroccan Royal Basketball Federation
CoachGustavo Aranza Mendez
Nickname(s)Atlas Lions
Olympic Games
Appearances1
MedalsNone
FIBA World Cup
Appearances0
AfroBasket
Appearances20
Medals Gold: (1965)
Silver: (1964, 1968)
Bronze: (1962, 1980)
AfroCan
Appearances2
Medals Gold: (2023)

The Morocco national basketball team represents Morocco in international basketball competitions. The team is governed by the Moroccan Royal Basketball Federation, also known as the FRMBB. The team has appeared at the FIBA AfroBasket 20 times and has won the gold medal in the 1965 tournament. In 1968, Morocco finished as runners-up.

The team made the Olympics once, in 1968, but went 0-9 in those games, holding the ignominious distinction of playing the most Olympic basketball games without winning any.

History

On the first edition of AfroCan, Morocco was placed 4th after losing the bronze medal to Angola.[2]

On 16 July 2023, Morocco won the 2023 FIBA AfroCan Final after beating Cote d'Ivoire 78-76 that took place in Luanda, Angola.[3][4] King Mohammed VI congratulated the team for their achievement on claiming the second continental title for the national team.[5][6]

Tournament record

Olympic Games

Year Round Position GP W L
1936 Not an IOC Member
1948
1952
1956 Did not qualify
1960
1964
1968 16th place 16th 9 0 9
1972 Did not qualify
1976
1980
1984
1984
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
2028 To be determined
2032
Total 1/23 9 0 9

FIBA Basketball World Cup

Year Round Position GP W L
1950 Did not qualify
1954
1959
1963
1967
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2019
// 2023
2027
Total 0/20 9 0 9

FIBA AfroBasket

  Champions     Runners-up     Third place     Fourth place  

Year Round Position GP W L
1962 Third place 3rd 4 2 2
1964 Runners-up 2nd 5 4 1
1965 Champions 1st 4 4 0
1968 Runners-up 2nd 6 5 1
1970 Did not qualify
1972 7th place 7th 6 3 3
1974 Did not qualify
1975
1978 5th place 5th 5 3 2
1980 Third place 3rd 6 4 2
1981 Did not qualify
1983
1985
1987
1989 5th place 9th 6 2 4
1992 5th place 9th 5 1 4
1993 Did not qualify
1995 6th place 6th 5 2 3
1997 Did not qualify
1999 11th place 11th 6 1 5
2001 6th place 6th 6 4 2
2003 8th place 8th 6 2 4
2005 6th place 6th 8 3 5
2007 10th place 10th 6 3 3
2009 10th place 12th 8 3 5
2011 8th place 8th 7 2 5
2013 8th place 8th 7 3 4
2015 13th place 13th 5 1 4
/ 2017 4th place 4th 6 4 2
2021 Did not qualify
2025
Total 20/31 117 56 61

FIBA AfroCan

  Champions     Fourth place  

Year Round Position GP W L
2019 4th place 4th 6 3 3
2023 Champions 1st 6 5 1
Total 2/2 12 8 4

Mediterranean Games

Team

Current roster

Morocco men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
SF 3 Ayoub Nouhi 25 – (1999-01-07)7 January 1999 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) FUS Rabat
PG 5 Yassine El Mahsini 30 – (1993-10-26)26 October 1993 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) AS Salé
G 8 Soufiane Benhmine 31 – (1992-04-08)8 April 1992 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) FUS Rabat
9 Mohamed Bnichou 25 – (1998-03-13)13 March 1998
G 10 Kevin Franceschi 30 – (1993-10-05)5 October 1993 AS FAR
PF 11 Abdelhakim Zouita 37 – (1986-08-12)12 August 1986 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) FUS Rabat
F 12 Ilias Aqboub 22 – (2002-01-25)25 January 2002 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) AS Salé
SF 15 Karim Gourari 34 – (1989-05-26)26 May 1989 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Rouen Métropole Basket
C 23 Khalid Boukichou 31 – (1992-09-17)17 September 1992 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) AS Salé
PF 32 Badreddine Azouga 29 – (1995-02-07)7 February 1995 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) FUS Rabat
PF 33 Mohamed Choua 31 – (1992-12-25)25 December 1992 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Rouen Métropole Basket
SG 55 Jihad Benchlikha 33 – (1991-01-06)6 January 1991 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) AS FAR
Head coach
  • Gustavo Aranzana
Assistant coach(es)
  • Mohamed Nizar Mesbahi

Head coach position

  • Moncho Monsalve – 2001
  • Jean-Paul Rabatet
  • Sterling Wright – 2003
  • Hassan Hachad – 2011–2013[7]
  • Said El Bouzidi – 2017[8]
  • Labib El Hamrani – 2023–2024
  • Gustavo Aranza Mendez – 2024

Past rosters

Team for the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship.

Morocco men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club
F 4 Reda Ali Harras 19 – (1993-11-24)24 November 1993 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
C 5 Reda Rhalimi 31 – (1982-02-02)2 February 1982 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) AS Salé
F 6 Abderrahim Najah 28 – (1984-11-20)20 November 1984 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) AS Salé
F 7 Zakaria El Masbahi 34 – (1979-03-29)29 March 1979 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) AS Salé
G 8 Mustapha Khalfi 33 – (1980-01-01)1 January 1980 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) Chabab Rif Al Hoceima
C 9 Mohamed Hjira 32 – (1981-01-19)19 January 1981 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Chabab Rif Al Hoceima
F/C 10 Youssef Zangui 32 – (1981-07-12)12 July 1981 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
F 11 Abdelhakim Zouita 27 – (1986-08-12)12 August 1986 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) AS Salé
G 12 Soufiane Nadim 25 – (1988-03-02)2 March 1988 FUS de Rabat
C 13 Soufiane Kourodu 28 – (1985-05-21)21 May 1985 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) AS Salé
14 Abdelali Lahrichi 20 – (1993-07-19)19 July 1993
F/C 15 Younes Idrissi 29 – (1984-04-13)13 April 1984 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) AS Salé
Head coach
  • Hassan Hachad
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 20 August 2013

At the AfroBasket 2015:[9]

Morocco men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
4 Reda Ali Harras 21 – (1993-11-24)24 November 1993 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
6 Soufiane Kourodu 30 – (1985-05-21)21 May 1985 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)
7 Zakaria El Masbahi 36 – (1979-03-29)29 March 1979 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) AS Salé
7 Abdelali Lahrichi 22 – (1993-07-19)19 July 1993 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
8 Mustapha Khalifi 35 – (1980-01-01)1 January 1980 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
9 Omar Laanani 28 – (1987-03-26)26 March 1987 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
10 Mohamed Choua 22 – (1992-12-25)25 December 1992 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
11 Abdelhakim Zouita 29 – (1986-08-12)12 August 1986 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
13 Adil El Makssoud 30 – (1984-12-12)12 December 1984 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
14 Kamal Hachad 32 – (1983-07-22)22 July 1983 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
15 Abderrahim Najah 30 – (1984-11-20)20 November 1984 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Mohamed Aboussalam 18 – (1996-08-20)20 August 1996
Head coach
  • Jad Fattouh
Assistant coach(es)
  • Anton Vujanic
  • Abdelaziz Quarouach
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 19 August 2015

At the AfroBasket 2017:

Morocco men's national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
F/C 4 Abderrahim Najah 32 – (1984-11-20)20 November 1984 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) AS Salé
PG 5 Mustapha Khalfi 37 – (1980-01-01)1 January 1980 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) AS Salé
C 6 Soufiane Kourdou 32 – (1985-05-21)21 May 1985 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) AS Salé
G/F 7 Zakaria El Masbahi 38 – (1979-03-29)29 March 1979 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) AS Salé
SG 8 Abdelali Lahraichi 24 – (1993-07-19)19 July 1993 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Wydad AC
C 9 Mohamed Aboussalam 21 – (1996-08-20)20 August 1996 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Rouen Métropole Basket
F/C 10 Mohamed Choua 24 – (1992-12-25)25 December 1992 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) AS Salé
PG 11 Jihad Benchlikha 25 – (1992-01-06)6 January 1992 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) ASFAR
F/C 12 John Wilkins 28 – (1989-07-13)13 July 1989 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Chabab Rif Al Hoceima
G/F 13 Adil El Makssoud 31 – (1985-12-12)12 December 1985 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Chabab Rif Al Hoceima
PG 14 Nadim Soufiane 29 – (1988-05-02)2 May 1988 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
C 15 Reda Rhalimi 35 – (1982-02-02)2 February 1982 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) Chabab Rif Al Hoceima
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Hamrani Labib
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 8 September 2017

Head coaches

Honours

AfroBasket

  • Champions (1): 1965
Runner-up: 1964, 1968
Third place: 1962, 1980

AfroCan

  • Champions (1): 2023

Pan Arab Games

Third place: 1961

Arab Basketball Championship

Runner-up: 2005, 2017
Third place: 2000, 2009, 2010

References

  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Democratic Republic of Congo claim FIBA AfroCan 2019 title". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Morocco win the 2023 FIBA AfroCan". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  4. ^ "منتخب المغرب يظفر ببطولة إفريقيا لكرة السلة". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  5. ^ Zouiten, Sara. "King Mohammed VI Congratulates Moroccan Basketball Team on AfroCan Victory". moroccoworldnews. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  6. ^ "الملك يهنئ "الأسود المحلية" لكرة السلة". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 18 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. ^ Head coaches, fiba.com, accessed 8 May 2013.
  8. ^ Morocco preliminary squad announced for FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, fiba.com, 7 March 2017. Accessed 7 March 2017.
  9. ^ Morocco | 2015 Afrobasket, ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Morocco bring new head coach in last bid for AfroBasket qualification". FIBA.basketball. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

See also