Ahmed Faras

Ahmed Faras
Faras in 1970 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-12-07)7 December 1946
Place of birth Mohammedia, Morocco
Date of death 16 July 2025(2025-07-16) (aged 78)
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1982 Chabab Mohammédia (127)
International career
1966–1979 Morocco 94 (36)
Medal record
Representing  Morocco
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 1976 Ethiopia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ahmed Faras (Arabic: أَحْمَد فَرَس; 7 December 1946 – 16 July 2025) was a Moroccan professional footballer who played as a striker for Chabab Mohammédia at club level and Morocco internationally.

Faras was named African Footballer of the Year in 1975. In 2006, Faras was selected by CAF as one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years.[1]

With 36 international goals, he is Morocco's all time top goalscorer.[2]

Club career

Faras played for Chabab Mohammédia between 1965 and 1982, winning the Moroccan Throne Cup in 1972 and 1975,[3] and the Moroccan League in 1980 and finishing as the league's top-scorer in 1969 and 1973 with 16 goals.[4] He retired in 1982, after spending 17 years with the club.

International career

Faras was a member of Morocco national team from 1965 to 1979, wearing the captain's armband for eight consecutive years, starting from 1971. At international level, Faras took part in the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico,[5] and the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich,[6] before leading his team to African Cup of Nations success in 1976. Faras scored a total of 42 goals in 94 games for his national side.[7]

1972 Summer Olympics

The Morocco national team was placed in Group A, with West Germany, Malaysia, United States. Faras played a major role in the 1972 Summer Olympics. He was the top scorer for the Morocco national team with three goals scored all against Malaysia making it his first and only hat-trick for the National team.[8][9]

1976 Africa Cup of Nations

In the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco was placed in Group B. Morocco tied its first match against Sudan and won its second against Zaire. Morocco played the final game against Nigeria, to determine the group winner, and Morocco won 3–1. In the final round Morocco defeated Egypt 2–1 with a goal scored by Faras in the 23rd minute. They played against Nigeria again and won 2–1, with their first goal scored by Faras in the 82nd minute. Morocco was to play its final against Guinea and needed a tie to win the cup. The match ended in a tie and Morocco won the cup. Faras was named best player of the tournament and was the second top goalscorer.[10]

Death

On 16 July 2025, Faras died after a long illness at the age of 78.[11][12]

Career statistics

Main article: List of international goals scored by Ahmed Faras
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Morocco
1966 2 0
1967 6 1
1968 4 2
1969 7 1
1970 3 2
1971 9 4
1972 16 9
1973 8 5
1974 11 3
1975 7 4
1976 11 5
1977 1 0
1978 3 0
1979 6 6
Total 94 42

Honours

Chabab Mohammédia

Morocco

Individual

Records

References

  1. ^ "Meilleur joueur des 50 dernières années 14 Marocains en lice" (in French). Le Matin. 13 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  2. ^ "La légende marocaine Ahmed Faras est décédée". Foot Mercato. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  3. ^ "ربورتاج: رحيل أسطورة الكرة المغربية أحمد فرس تخلف حزنا عميقا في قلوب أبناء وأصدقاء «مول الكورة»". 17 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  4. ^ "وفاة أحمد فرس أول مغربي يحرز الكرة الذهبية الأفريقية وأفضل هداف في تاريخ "أسود الأطلس"". 17 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  5. ^ Ahmed Faras – FIFA competition record (archived)
  6. ^ "Ahmed Faras Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  7. ^ Ahmed Faras - Goals in International Matches
  8. ^ "Games of the XX. Olympiad – Football Tournament". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Olympic Football Tournament Munich 1972". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  10. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Atlas Lions roared loudest in 1976". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Moroccan Football Legend Ahmed Faras Dies at 78". Barlaman Today. 16 July 2025.
  12. ^ MASAITI, Amira EL (16 July 2025). "Moroccan football legend Ahmed Faras dies at 78". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  13. ^ "IFFHS". IFFHS. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Morocco – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
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