Botola

The Botola Pro (Arabic: البطولة الاحترافية, romanized: al-buṭūla l-iḥtirāfiyya), is a Moroccan professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Moroccan football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Football League. It is regarded as one of the best football leagues in the world, the world's 17th strongest national football league in the world (2020) according to IFFHS as well as the best national football league in Africa.

Botola
Founded1956
CountryMorocco
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toBotola 2
Domestic cup(s)Coupe du Trône
International cup(s)Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current championsRaja Casablanca (12th title)
(2019–20)
Most championshipsWydad Casablanca (20)
TV partnersAl Aoula, Arryadiya
Current: 2020–21 Botola

From 2015 to 2019, the league was called Botola Maroc Telecom for sponsorship reasons.

The Botola Pro is a corporation in which the 16 member clubs act as shareholders, Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 30 matches each (playing each team in the league twice, home and away) totalling 214 matches in the season. Most games are played in the afternoons of Saturdays and Sundays, the other games during weekday evenings. It is sponsored by Inwi[1] and thus known as the Botola Pro Inwi.

The competition formed as the FRFM on 20 February 1992 following the decision of clubs in the Botola Pro to break away from the UNAF, which had been founded in 1911, and take advantage of a lucrative television rights deal. This deal is worth 55 million MAD a year domestically as of 2015–16, with Arryadia securing the domestic rights to broadcast games respectively. The league generates 123 million MAD per year in domestic and international television rights.

The Botola Pro is the most-watched football league in Africa, broadcasts in 153 territories to 54 million homes and a potential TV audience of 2 billion people. In the 2010–11 season, the average Botola Pro match attendance was 25,363, the highest of any professional football league in Africa, and stadium occupancy was 92% capacity. The Botola Pro ranked first in the CAF 5-Year Ranking of leagues based on performances in African competitions over the last five years.

The current champions are Raja Club Athletic, who won the title in 2019–20. [2]

History

Botola trophy

The first edition of the Moroccan Football League under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation took place in 1956–57, soon after Morocco became an independent country.

Competition

Each year 16 teams compete for the championship. The two lowest-placed teams are relegated to Botola Elite 2 and the top two teams from Botola Elite 2 are promoted in their place to Botola Pro.

Champion and runner-up participate in the African Champions League. The third-place team and Coupe du Trône winner qualify to participate in the African Confederation Cup.

Sponsorship

Since 2000, inwi has been the official sponsor of the Botola for a 15 million dirham per year contract.

Broadcasting rights

In September 2007, the SNRT Group (Al Aoula, 2M TV and Arryadia) paid 225 million dirhams for the rights to broadcast the following three seasons of the Botola.[3]

Throughout the week, every game played in the Botola is broadcast live by at least one TV channel.

BeIN Sports network also broadcasts a few matches every week.

Clubs

The most popular Moroccan clubs are Wydad Casablanca, AS FAR, and Raja Casablanca. Other historically established sides include CODM Meknes, KAC Kenitra, Maghreb Fès, Moghreb Tétouan, Fath Rabat, and Kawkab Marrakech. Hassania agadir

Stadiums

Current stadiums

Casablanca Rabat Agadir Tanger
Stade Mohamed V Stade Moulay Abdellah Stade Adrar Stade de Tanger
Capacity: 67,000 Capacity: 53,000 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 45,000
Fes Oujda El Jadida Tétouan
Fez Stadium Honneur Stadium Stade El Abdi Stade Saniat Rmel
Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 15,000
Safi Berkane Rabat Berrechid
Stade El Massira Stade Municipal de Berkane Stade Moulay Hassan Stade Municipal de Berrechid
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 10,000

Other stadiums

Marrakech El Aaiún Meknes Kénitra
Stade de Marrakech Stade Cheikh Laaghdef Stade d'Honneur Stade Municipal de Kénitra
Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 15,000
Al Hoceima Khouribga
Stade Mimoun Al Arsi Complexe OCP
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 10,000

List of champions

SeasonChampionRunner-up
1956–57Wydad CasablancaKawkab Marrakech
1957–58Kawkab MarrakechWydad Casablanca
1958–59Étoile de CasablancaWydad Casablanca
1959–60KAC KenitraAS FAR
1960–61AS FARMaghreb Fez
1961–62AS FARRacing de Casablanca
1962–63AS FARKawkab Marrakech
1963–64AS FARStade Marocain
1964–65Maghreb FezRacing de Casablanca
1965–66Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
1966–67AS FARRenaissance de Settat
1967–68AS FARRenaissance de Settat
1968–69Wydad CasablancaMaghreb Fez
1969–70AS FARUnion Sidi Kacem
1970–71Renaissance de SettatAS FAR
1971–72Racing de CasablancaWydad Casablanca
1972–73KAC KenitraFUS Rabat
1973–74Raja de Beni MellalRaja Casablanca
1974–75Mouloudia OujdaMaghreb Fez
1975–76Wydad CasablancaDifaa El Jadida
1976–77Wydad CasablancaMouloudia Oujda
1977–78Wydad CasablancaMaghreb Fez
1978–79Maghreb FezKAC Kenitra
1979–80Chabab MohammédiaWydad Casablanca
1980–81KAC KenitraFUS Rabat
1981–82KAC KenitraWydad Casablanca
1982–83Maghreb FezRenaissance de Berkane
1983–84AS FAROlympique Khouribga
1984–85Maghreb FezKAC Kenitra
1985–86Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
1986–87AS FARKawkab Marrakech
1987–88Raja CasablancaKawkab Marrakech
1988–89AS FARMaghreb Fez
1989–90Wydad CasablancaIR Tanger
1990–91Wydad CasablancaAS FAR
1991–92Kawkab MarrakechRaja Casablanca
1992–93Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
1993–94Olympique de CasablancaWydad Casablanca
1994–95CODM de MeknèsOlympique de Casablanca
1995–96Raja CasablancaOlympique Khouribga
1996–97Raja CasablancaWydad Casablanca
1997–98Raja CasablancaKawkab Marrakech
1998–99Raja CasablancaKawkab Marrakech
1999–00Raja CasablancaWydad Casablanca
2000–01Raja CasablancaFUS Rabat
2001–02Hassania AgadirWydad Casablanca
2002–03Hassania AgadirRaja Casablanca
2003–04Raja CasablancaAS FAR
2004–05AS FARRaja Casablanca
2005–06Wydad CasablancaAS FAR
2006–07Olympique KhouribgaAS FAR
2007–08AS FARIZK Khemisset
2008–09Raja CasablancaDifaa El Jadida
2009–10Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
2010–11Raja CasablancaMaghreb Fez
2011–12Moghreb TétouanFUS Rabat
2012–13Raja CasablancaAS FAR
2013–14Moghreb TétouanRaja Casablanca
2014–15Wydad CasablancaOlympique Khouribga
2015–16FUS RabatWydad Casablanca
2016–17Wydad CasablancaDifaa El Jadida
2017–18IR TangerWydad Casablanca
2018–19Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
2019–20Raja CasablancaWydad Casablanca

Performances

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Seasons
Wydad Casablanca⭐⭐
20
12
[1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1954–55,] 1956–57, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19
AS FAR
12
7
1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 2004–05, 2007–08
Raja Casablanca
12
10
1987–88, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2019-20
Maghreb Fez
4
7
1964–65, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1984–85
KAC Kenitra
4
2
1959–60, 1972–73, 1980–81, 1981–82
Kawkab Marrakech
2
6
1957–58, 1991–92
Moghreb Tétouan
2
2011–12, 2013–14
Hassania Agadir
2
1
2001–02, 2002–03
FUS Rabat
1
5
2015–16
Olympique Khouribga
1
3
2006–07
Racing de Casablanca
1
2
1971–72
Renaissance de Settat
1
2
1970–71
IR Tanger
1
1
2017–18
Olympique de Casablanca
1
1
1993–94
Mouloudia Oujda
1
1
1974–75
CODM de Meknès
1
1994–95
Chabab Mohammédia
1
1979–80
Raja de Beni Mellal
1
1973–74
Étoile de Casablanca
1
1958–59

Performance comparison since 2011

Performance comparison of top teams since 2011.

Teams11–1212–1313–1414–1515–1616–1717–1818–19 19–20
WAC346121[lower-alpha 1]21[lower-alpha 2]2
RCA412853[lower-alpha 3]62[lower-alpha 4]1
FUS26351[lower-alpha 5]7494
MAT151461211137
DHJ59571325811
IRT----351514
MAS63141016[lower-alpha 6]----
FAR72711468146
HUSA12108688338
RSB-79974973
  League champions
  Champions League
  Confederation Cup
  Arab Championship
  Relegation
  1. Participated also in the Arab Championship.
  2. Participated also in the Arab Championship.
  3. Participated also in the Arab Championship.
  4. Participated also in the Arab Championship.
  5. Participated also in the Arab Championship.
  6. Despite relegation, MAS qualified for the Confederation Cup as Throne Cup winners.

All-time Botola Pro table (since 2011)

The all-time Botola Pro table is an overall record of all match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in Botola Pro since its new format inception in 2011. The table is accurate as of the end of the 2019–20 season. Teams in bold are part of the 2020–21 Botola season.

All-time Botola Pro table
Pos Team S Pts GP W D L GF GA GD 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th T Debut Since/
Last App
Best
1Wydad AC94922701358748381217+164331182011–122011–121
2Raja CA94772701318455401236+1652211172011–122011–121
3Fath US94252701119267298226+721112162011–122011–121
4MA Tétouan93972701048581300269+3121142011–122011–121
5AS FAR9388270979776321277+441122011–122011–122
6DH Jadida9383270959778295247+481342011–122011–122
7HUS Agadir9356[lower-alpha 1]270889488304314−10222011–122011–123
8RS Berkane83422408010258238203+351122012–132012–133
9OC Safi9329270789597260315−55112011–122011–124
10OC Khouribga9319[lower-alpha 2]2707984107262319−57112011–122019–202
11CR Al Hoceima8265[lower-alpha 3]2406472104215295−802011–122018–198
12KAC Marrakech6220180555570183204−211122013–142018–193
13IR Tanger5219150565143150137+1311242015–162015–161
14Maghreb AS5185150416247156155+1112011–122015–163
15Kenitra AC6185180416277151222−712011–122016–1711
16MC Oujda31129027313292107−15112015–162018–195
17RC Oued Zem3110902632328592−72017–182017–189
18CA Khénifra3959021323778102−242014–152017–1810
19WA Fes3899019323977112−352011–122013–1411
20CAY Berrechid275602015256981−122018–192018–196
21COD Meknès260[lower-alpha 4]601516294466−222011–122012–1310
22IZ Khemisset251601021293872−342011–122014–1516
23R Beni Mellal23660521343584−492012–132019–2016
24RCA Zemamra13430810124041−12019–202019–2012
25AS Sale12930611132533−82013–142013–1415
26JS Massira1283077162442−182011–122011–1215
27JS Kasbah Tadla1283077162547−222016–172016–1715
28Racing AC1173038192254−322017–182017–1816
29SCC Mohammédia
League or status for 201920 season
2020–21 Botola
2020–21 Botola 2
2020-21 Moroccan Amateur National Championship
  1. HUSA deducted 2 points due to the involvement of 4 foreign players against CRA in 2011/12 Season
  2. OCK deducted 2 points because of two matches being awarded against them in 2013/14 season
  3. 2 points were added to CRA in 2011/12 season because of HUSA's inclusion of 4 foreign players against them. And in 2013/14 season 1 point deducted because of one match being awarded against them
  4. CODM deducted 1 point after the masses rioted in front of MAS 2011/12 season

Top scorers

Season Player Team Goals
1956-57 Abdelkarim ZidaniKAC Marrakech18
1957-58 Mohamed Chtaini FejjarDifaâ El Jadida22
1958-59 Mohamed KhalfiWydad Casablanca21
1959-60 Moussa HanouneRaja Casablanca22
1960-61 HarchaouiÉtoile de Casablanca19
1961-62 M'jidou
Abdelkarim Zidani
Harchaoui
Chabab Mohammédia
KAC Marrakech
Étoile de Casablanca
13
1962-63 Kébir MezzourFUS Rabat17
1963-64 Robert TrabaChabab Mohammédia13
1964-65 Fettah FilaliFUS Rabat16
1965-66 Hmida AzzaouiMouloudia d'Oujda14
1966-67 Houmane Jarir
Abdelatif Chiadmi
Raja CA
Difaâ El Jadida
18
1967–68 Hassan ChichaDifaa El Jadida19
1968–69 Ahmed FarasChabab Mohammédia16
1969–70 Abdallah BendrissUnion Sidi Kacem17
1970–71 Abdallah BendrissUnion Sidi Kacem19
1971–72 Miloud OuazirDifaâ El Jadida18
1972–73 Ahmed FarasChabab Mohammédia16
1973–74 Abdelhay
Ahmed
AS Salé
TAS Casablanca
11
1974–75 Hassan ChichaDifaa El Jadida12
1975–76 Hassan AmcharratChabab Mohammédia17
1976–77 Mohamed BoussatiKAC Kenitra17
1977–78 Mustapha ChahidWydad Casablanca16
1978–79 AchibatRenaissance Berkane17
1979–80 Idriss OuadichAS FAR15
1980–81 Mohamed BoussatiKAC Kenitra17
1981–82 Mohamed BoussatiKAC Kenitra25
1982–83 Abdeslam LaghrissiAS FAR14
1983–84 Mjidou
Alaeddine Tmimi
Wydad Casablanca
Mouloudia d'Oujda
11
1984–85 Hmida BoushabaRenaissance Berkane13
1985–86 Hassan Nader
Mohammed Chaouch
Wydad Casablanca
Kawkab Marrakech
13
1986–87 Abderrazak Khairi
Hassan Nader
AS FAR
Wydad Casablanca
12
1987–88 Lahcen AnaflousAS FAR17
1988–89 Hassan NaderWydad Casablanca18
1989–90 Abdeslam LaghrissiAS FAR22
1990–91 Lahcen AnaflousAS FAR15
1991–92 Lahcen AnaflousAS FAR11
1992–93 Youssef FertoutWydad Casablanca18
1993–94 Ahmed BahjaKawkab Marrakech14
1994–95 Abdeslam LaghrissiAS FAR15
1995–96 SoufirJeunesse El Massira16
1996–97 AnaneAS Salé17
1997–98 Rachid RokkiChabab Mohammédia15
1998–99 Abdelaziz ZouineOlympique Khouribga16
1999–00 Mustapha BidoudaneFUS Rabat17
2000–01 Samir SarsarKawkab Marrakech12
2001–02 Omar ZaouitTihad Sportif Casablanca14
2002–03 Mustapha BidoudaneRaja Casablanca14
2003–04 Mustapha BidoudaneRaja Casablanca13
2004–05 Mohamed ArmoumenAS FAR12
2005–06 Mamadou Ba CamaraOlympique Khouribga9
2006–07 Jawad OuaddouchAS FAR12
2007–08 Abderrazak LamnasfiAS FAR13
2008–09 Mustapha AllaouiAS FAR14
2009–10 Omar HassiWidad Fez12
2010–11 Jawad OuaddouchAS FAR11
2011–12 Karl Max BarthelemyDifaa El Jadida17
2012–13 Abderazak HamdallahOlympic Safi15
2013–14 Zouhaur Naim
Zoumana Kone
Moghreb Tétouan
Hassania Agadir
11
2014–15 Malick EvounaWydad Casablanca16
2015–16 Mahdi NaghmiAS FAR12 [4]
2016–17 William JeborWydad Casablanca19
2017–18 Mouhssine IajourRaja Casablanca17
2018-19 Mouhssine Iajour
Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba
Raja Casablanca
RS Berkane
19
2019-20 Brahim El BahraouiRapide Oued Zem16

See also

Notes

    References

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