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| Throne Cup (Morocco) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Throne Cup |
| Native name | Coupe du Trône |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Organiser | Royal Moroccan Football Federation |
| Region | Morocco |
| Number of teams | variable |
| Current champion | Wydad AC |
| Most successful club | FAR Rabat |
Throne Cup (Morocco) is the premier national knockout football cup competition in Morocco, established after independence. The tournament involves clubs from the Botola Pro, Botola 2, and regional leagues, culminating in a final traditionally held in Rabat or Casablanca. Winners have qualified for continental competitions organized by the Confederation of African Football and have been celebrated by the Moroccan monarchy, with ceremonies involving the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
The Throne Cup was inaugurated in 1956 following the end of the French Protectorate in Morocco and the consolidation of the Kingdom of Morocco under Mohammed V of Morocco. Early editions featured clubs such as Wydad AC, Raja CA, FAR Rabat, and Maghreb de Fès as dominant sides. During the 1960s and 1970s the competition reflected shifting regional strengths with frequent appearances from KAC Kénitra and AS FAR. Political events like the Green March and regional reorganizations influenced scheduling and venue selection. In the 1980s and 1990s, clubs including Renaissance de Berkane and Kawkab Marrakech rose in prominence, while the Botola league reforms under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation altered calendar alignment. The 21st century saw increased professionalization with investments by owners linked to institutions such as OCP Group and patrons associated with Moroccan cities like Agadir and Fes.
The Throne Cup operates as a single-elimination tournament with preliminary rounds feeding into a national phase. Lower-tier sides from the Division Nationale and regional leagues meet professional squads from Botola Pro and Botola 2 in centrally scheduled rounds held at stadiums across Morocco. Match resolution follows regulations of FIFA and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation with provisions for extra time and penalty shootouts, echoing formats used in the FA Cup and Coupe de France. Seeding and draw procedures have evolved, with some seasons employing open draws similar to those of the Copa del Rey and others using geographically seeded matchups akin to early rounds of DFB-Pokal.
All Moroccan clubs affiliated to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation are eligible, subject to licensing criteria analogous to CAF club licensing rules. Professional sides from Botola Pro enter at later stages while semi-professional and amateur clubs qualify through regional cup competitions overseen by regional branches such as those in Casablanca-Settat and Marrakesh-Safi. Reserve teams, foreign clubs, and military selection teams are excluded except for institutional clubs like FAR Rabat, which competes as a club representing the Royal Armed Forces. Qualification for continental competition has linked Throne Cup winners to the CAF Confederation Cup and, historically, to the African Cup Winners' Cup.
Finals have produced memorable encounters, including clashes between Wydad AC and Raja CA that paralleled their rivalry in the Botola and in CAF Champions League campaigns. Historic finals at venues like Stade Mohammed V and Stade Moulay Abdellah featured standout performances by players who later starred for the Morocco national football team at tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup. Clubs with most titles include FAR Rabat and Wydad AC, while record-breaking matches involved extended penalty shootouts and high-scoring affairs comparable to notable cup finals in Egypt and Tunisia. The competition has seen managerial figures like those who managed Raja CA and Kawkab Marrakech achieve national acclaim following Throne Cup success.
Many Moroccan clubs have used the Throne Cup as a platform to launch continental ambitions; winners have included Renaissance de Berkane, MAS Fez, and Maghreb Fès. Individual players including national team members who later played for Real Madrid, Sevilla FC, or FC Porto have featured in cup runs. Young talents from academies linked to Wydad AC and Raja CA often gain exposure during the competition and subsequently transfer to European clubs under scouting networks involving agents from France, Spain, and Portugal. Coaching figures with experience in Ligue 1 and La Liga have also managed Throne Cup sides, adding tactical diversity.
Finals are staged at major stadiums such as Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier, and Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, with occasional selection of regional grounds in Fes and Agadir to broaden national engagement. Attendance figures fluctuate based on participating clubs, with derby finals drawing large crowds and attracting supporters organized through ultras groups affiliated with Wydad AC and Raja CA. Security and crowd management protocols have involved coordination with municipal authorities in cities like Casablanca and Rabat, and the deployment of matchday services has mirrored standards seen in CAF competitions.
Broadcast rights for the Throne Cup have been held by national outlets such as 2M (TV channel) and SNRT and supplemented by digital streaming platforms catering to the Moroccan diaspora in France, Belgium, and Spain. Commercial sponsors have included domestic corporations like OCP Group and banking institutions present in Morocco, while kit manufacturers such as Puma and Adidas have supplied apparel for participating clubs. Coverage extends to radio broadcasters and sports newspapers based in Casablanca and Rabat, and international reporting appears in outlets covering African football and CAF competitions.
Category:Football competitions in Morocco Category:1956 establishments in Morocco