Moroccan Football Federation honours former Atlas Lions players

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) hosted a special ceremony on Thursday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex to pay tribute to former stars of the Atlas Lions.

The event celebrated national icons such as Mohamed Timoumi, Abdeslam Laghrissi, Abdelkarim Hadrioui, Abderrazak Khairi, Idriss Waddich, Lahcen Anafalous, Hamdi Lanmati, Hammou El Fadili, Lahcen El Weddani, Abdelghani El Othmani, and Mahjoub El Ghazouani.

Additional honorees included Hamdi Lanmati, Saad Dahan, Mourad Hdioued, Khalid Labied, Mustapha Bidodane, Said Chiba, and Mustapha Mahrous, alongside several others who proudly wore the national team jersey.

Current Moroccan football stars, including Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou, attended the ceremony, sharing photos and moments with the celebrated veterans.

FRMF described the gathering as “a genuine intergenerational exchange within Morocco’s football family.”

In a statement, the federation added: “Yesterday’s iconic figures, who left their mark on the history of the sport, came together with today’s generation, driven by the desire to continue the journey and honor the national flag in continental and international competitions.”

The tribute coincided with preparations for Morocco’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Niger, scheduled for tomorrow at 8 p.m. Moroccan time.

Last year, FRMF organized a similar ceremony to honor former international players from Morocco’s eastern region, including Mohamed El Filali, Kamal Smiri, Rachid Nekrouz, and Yahia El Harasse.