Morocco’s players may have left the final disappointed, but the national team still signed off with an unprecedented achievement that has eased some of the pain.
Despite the defeat in the showpiece, Morocco set a record that had never been reached before by any Arab or African side in the competition, underlining the scale of what the team delivered over the course of the tournament.
The Moroccan run drew huge attention, with the team producing strong performances from the group stage through the knockout rounds, before falling short at the last hurdle.
The achievement, revealed after the final, confirms Morocco’s campaign as one of the most remarkable in their history, even if it ended without lifting the trophy.
While the final result left clear frustration, the record stands as a lasting mark of progress and a moment that will be remembered long after the defeat.
