Former captain of the Atlas Lions and Morocco’s first African Footballer of the Year, Ahmed Faras, died on July 16, 2025, in Mohammedia, leaving an unforgettable legacy in African football. His outstanding career and patriotic commitment continue to inspire football enthusiasts.
Ahmed Faras, born on December 7, 1946, in Mohammedia, established himself as an icon of Moroccan and African football before passing away at the age of 78 after a long illness. As a remarkable striker, he dedicated 17 years to Chabab Mohammedia, with whom he won the national league in 1980 and two Throne Cups in 1972 and 1975.
Internationally, Faras remains Morocco’s all-time top scorer with 42 goals, a testament to his deadly efficiency on the field. His achievements shine, notably with the historic 1976 Africa Cup of Nations victory, which he captained and for which he was named the tournament’s best player — Morocco’s only continental title to date]. The previous year, in 1975, he earned the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award, a feat unmatched by any other Moroccan since.
Ahmed Faras left his mark not only through his sporting feats but through his charisma and exemplary loyalty. A unique player who wore only one club’s jersey during his professional career, he embodied loyalty and patriotism, praised by King Mohammed VI, who honored him as a “great name of Moroccan football”.
His passing is a profound loss for Moroccan sports, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of fans, African football history, and as an inspiration for new generations of players. Ahmed Faras remains a beacon for young Moroccan talents dreaming of competing on the world’s biggest stages.
