Moroccan football legend Ahmed Faras has passed away at the age of 78 after a long battle with illness.
Regarded as one of the finest players in the history of Moroccan football, Faras remains the all-time leading scorer for the Atlas Lions with 46 goals.
In 1976, Faras etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Moroccan to win the African Golden Ball, the same year he played a pivotal role in guiding Morocco to their only Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph in Ethiopia.
A key figure for the Moroccan national team, Faras represented his country at the World Cup and in several AFCON campaigns, earning widespread admiration for his leadership and talent.
At the club level, Faras was the heartbeat of Chabab Mohammedia, where he enjoyed a stellar career during the club’s golden era in the 1970s and 1980s.
He twice finished as the league’s top scorer in 1969 and 1973, lifted the Throne Cup in 1972 and 1975, won the National Super Cup in 1975, and celebrated regional success with the Maghreb Cup Winners’ Cup in 1973.
Spending his entire playing career at Chabab Mohammedia from 1964 until his retirement in 1982, Faras helped lead the club to the Moroccan league title in 1980.
In his final months, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, visited Faras at his home to offer moral and medical support during his illness.
