To appreciate the , one must understand how coach Walid Regragui deploys the system. Morocco typically plays a 4-3-3 or a 4-1-4-1. The number 8 (the right-sided central midfielder) has a unique brief:

, the breakout star of the Moroccan national football team whose performance wearing the number 8 jersey during the 2022 FIFA World Cup captivated the global football community. As of April 2026, he continues to be a vital component of the "Atlas Lions," who recently reached a historic 8th position in the FIFA world rankings. Player Profile: Azzedine Ounahi Azzedine Ounahi

In the world of football, a squad number is often just a formality. However, certain numbers become synonymous with a player’s style, position, and legacy. For Morocco, the number 8 shirt is far more than a back-of-the-jersey identifier; it represents the heartbeat of the team, the engine in midfield, and a lineage of technical excellence. To understand the story of the Moroccan national team—especially its historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals—one must understand the significance of the number 8.

Scour the streets of Casablanca, Marrakech, or even the immigrant-heavy arrondissements of Paris and Brussels, and you will see a sea of red jerseys. Since 2022, the most requested print on the back of the Atlas Lions kit has not been Ziyech (Number 7) or Hakimi (Number 2). It is .

This success elevated Morocco's standing in international sports, with various rankings often placing them among the top tier of competitive nations globally. Conclusion

While Sofyan Amrabat (Noureddine's younger brother) famously wore the number 4 in Qatar, the 8 was passed to a slender, unknown talent from Angers: .