Morocco’s Atlas Lions Pursue History in 2025
The Atlas Lions, Morocco’s national football team, are on the brink of history. After winning 11 consecutive matches, a record for them, they are looking to win a record 12th match against Benin in Fes on June 10, 2025. Winning this match could help them enter FIFA top 10 FIFA rankings and firmly establish themselves as a global power in football. Morocco vs Benin
In this article, we’ll review Morocco’s incredible journey, their approach to this upcoming match, and why this match is more than a friendly. How are the Atlas Lions making history in African football?
The Road to FIFA’s Top 10: Morocco’s Rapid Ascendance
A Record Winning Streak
Morocco’s winning streak of 11 consecutive matches is currently the longest in team history, with the streak featuring impressive wins against international powerhouses indicating Morocco’s defend-then-counter style of play and natural attacking talent. A win over Benin would break Morocco’s current record and secure additional FIFA ranking points; and recent discussions posted to X suggest that depending on Germany’s recent loss and a win over Benin, Morocco may be within seven points, after an incredible amount of team success.
Key Players Driving the Ship
Morocco’s breakout success is not an accident. Top-flight players such as Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, and Youssef En-Nesyri have played important functions. Hakimi is explosive both in pace and defense, while Ziyech is creative and an attacking force. En-Nesyri has been key to supplying goals and holding play up front with clinical finishing in key situations as well.
Tactical Oppositional Intelligence Under Coach Regragui
Coach Walid Regragui has done an incredible job creating a smart, tactical unit. High pressing, transition and defend-to-attack approaches have paid dividends in scoring goals and building an unbeaten record. Regragui has formerly taken advantage of key opponent weaknesses and smartly matched tactics against opponent strengths. Morocco has beaten many launched-at-winning probabilities since the World Cup – they should be heavy favorites against Benin, and I am certain that Regragui will make any absolutely tactical needed adjustments.
Why the Benin Match Matters
More Than a Friendly
Despite being called a friendly, the June 10 match in Fes carries even more significance. Not only would a 12th win propel Morocco’s FIFA ranking and points further down the line, it would send a message to the football world. No longer do they wear the underdog tag. They are contenders on the world stage.
FIFA Ranking Points On Offer
The calculation of the FIFA rankings is subjective and considers not only results of matches played, but also the strength of the opponents faced in those matches and the type of competition that the match forms part of (e.g. friendly vs. world qualifying). So, a win against Benin – although they are ranked lower than Morocco, would still earn Morocco some useful points. Posts on X suggest that a win bonus would possibly net Morocco an additional +3.04 points, leaving them tantalizingly close to breaking into the FIFA top 10!
Home Advantage in Fes
Finally, Morocco will be playing at home in Fes – where they will also get the backing of their home crowd, which will carry psychological advantages. The home crowd will be fired up and will be expected to be present in numbers – this created an electric atmosphere in March, and will be able to follow similar virtue into June. In a close match, it is necessary to have every possible advantage.
Obstacles Ahead For Morocco
Benin’s Potential Spoiler
Morocco has shown themselves to be a dominant side, but Benin is no slouch. They are a big, strong team that has been known to sit back and defend, then hit you on the counter-attack. If Morocco isn’t careful, Benin could cause them problems. In fact, Benin has shown they are capable of ruining stronger teams’ nights based on their horror shows against Ghana in 2022 and Nigeria in 2021.
Keeping The Unbeaten Streak
No matter how good a team is, it is tough to go unbeaten. There is always added pressure being part of the college soccer in Canada, and travelling to each game can take its toll – and that is not to mention the daily demands of training. In every game you feel the need to perform to keep the unbeaten run going, and that can take a toll mentally and physically. After this week Regragui will need the squad primed and ready to go while managing fatigue.
The Top 10 Challenge
Even if they win, Morocco has stiff competition from all the teams close to the top.