THE CONTENDERS - Morocco pass top-team litmus

Morocco are ranked seventh in the world, the highest African nation on the FIFA rankings. The African champions earned their title in controversial fashion earlier this year, and there have been those who think their status may be a little inflated.

Brazil came forth to test them on Saturday, and they passed, forcing the five-time World Cup champions to come from behind to earn a draw and never seeming out of place in the only group that features two top-10 teams. With their quality tested and proven, we have to take a look at Morocco, legitimate contenders.

Underneath the controversy of the 2025 African Cup of Nations final lies an African powerhouse that is ready to take the world by storm once again.

Morocco stand as the first-ever African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, achieving the feat in 2022, and have only grown since.

There is talent throughout the Morocco line-up.

Skipper Achraf Hakimi is a mainstay with two-time Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain, and his leadership will be crucial. 

But joining Hakimi in defence, there is also Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui, Fulham’s Issa Diop, and Crystal Palace’s Chadi Reid, who combine to make a difficult prospect to score against as Brazil learned.

Entering the World Cup as the highest-ranked African nation, the only real concern was if they could live up to the high expectations and intense scrutiny after the Afcon debacle. They have already gone a far way toward doing so.

Players to watch: Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou

Group C: Morocco, Brazil, Haiti, Scotland

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com

FIFA RANKINGS

1. Argentina

2. Spain

3. France

4. England

5. Portugal

6. Brazil

7. Morocco

8. Netherlands

9. Belgium

10. Germany