Botola

Botola
Botola logo after 2015 sponsorship with mobile carrier Maroc Telecom.
Founded 1916
Country Morocco
Confederation CAF
Number of teams 16
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Botola 2
Domestic cup(s) Coupe du Trône
International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions Ittihad Tanger (1st title) 2017–18
Most championships Wydad Casablanca (19)
TV partners Al Aoula, Arryadiya,
2M TV, BeIN Sports
2018–19 Botola

The Botola (Arabic: البطولة‎), literally "the Moroccan Championship" (known as Botola Maroc Telecom for sponsorship reasons) 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.

The Premier League 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 Maroc Télécom and thus known as the Botola-Ittisalat. Outside England, it is commonly referred to as the Moroccan Premier League (MPL).

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 MAD 55 million a year domestically as of 2015–16, with Arryadia securing the domestic rights to broadcast games respectively. The league generates MAD 123 million 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 Premier League ranked second in the CAF 5-Zaers of leagues based on performances in African competitions over the last five years.

Of the 16 clubs to have competed since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, five have won the title: Wydad Casablanca (19), Association Sportive des FAR (12), Raja de Casablanca (11), Magreb Fez (4) and Hašania Agadir (2). The current champions are Wydad Casablanca, who won the title in 2016-17.

On 5 June 2016 FUS Rabat won the football championship for the first time after being runner-up to the title for 5 previous times.[1]

History

The first edition of the Moroccan Football League under the FRMF 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, Maroc Telecom 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 millions dirhams for the rights to broadcast the following three seasons of the Botola.[2]

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 Association Sportive des FAR, Raja Casablanca, Wydad Casablanca. Other historically established sides include Kawkab Marrakech, KAC Kenitra , Moghreb Tétouan and Hassania Agadir.

Stadiums

Current stadiums

Casablanca Rabat Marrakech Agadir
Stade Mohamed V Stade Moulay Abdellah Stade de Marrakech Stade Adrar
Capacity: 67,000 Capacity: 65,000 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 45,000
Fes Tanger Oujda El Aaiún
Fez Stadium Stade de Tanger Honneur Stadium Stade Cheikh Laaghdef
Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 45,000 Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 30,000
Meknes Kénitra Al Hoceima Tétouan
Stade d'Honneur Stade Municipal de Kénitra Stade Mimoun Al Arsi Stade Saniat Rmel
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 12,000
Safi El Jadida Berkane Khouribga
Stade El Massira Stade El Abdi Stade Municipal De Berkane Complexe sportif du Phosphate
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000

List of champions

SeasonChampionRunner-up
1956–57Wydad CasablancaKawkab Marrakech
1957–58Kawkab MarrakechWydad Casablanca
1958–59Étoile de CasablancaWydad Casablanca
1959–60KAC KenitraFAR Rabat
1960–61FAR RabatMaghreb Fez
1961–62FAR RabatRacing de Casablanca
1962–63FAR RabatKawkab Marrakech
1963–64FAR RabatStade Marocain
1964–65Maghreb FezRacing de Casablanca
1965–66Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
1966–67FAR RabatRenaissance de Settat
1967–68FAR RabatRenaissance de Settat
1968–69Wydad CasablancaMaghreb Fez
1969–70FAR RabatUnion Sidi Kacem
1970–71Renaissance de SettatFAR Rabat
1971–72Racing de CasablancaWydad Casablanca
1972–73KAC KenitraFUS Rabat
1973–74Raja de Beni MellalFUS Rabat
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
1983–84FAR RabatOlympique Khouribga
1984–85Maghreb FezKAC Kenitra
1985–86Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
1986–87FAR RabatKawkab Marrakech
1987–88Raja CasablancaKawkab Marrakech
1988–89FAR RabatMaghreb Fez
1989–90Wydad CasablancaIR Tanger
1990–91Wydad CasablancaFAR Rabat
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 CasablancaFAR Rabat
2004–05FAR RabatRaja Casablanca
2005–06Wydad CasablancaFAR Rabat
2006–07Olympique KhouribgaFAR Rabat
2007–08FAR RabatIZK Khemisset
2008–09Raja CasablancaDifaa El Jadida
2009–10Wydad CasablancaRaja Casablanca
2010–11Raja CasablancaMaghreb Fez
2011–12Moghreb TétouanFUS Rabat
2012–13Raja CasablancaFAR Rabat
2013–14Moghreb TétouanRaja Casablanca
2014–15Wydad CasablancaOlympique Khouribga
2015–16FUS RabatWydad Casablanca
2016–17Wydad CasablancaDifaa El Jadida
2017–18IR TangerWydad Casablanca

Performances

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Seasons
Wydad Casablanca
19
12
 1947-1948, 1948-1949, 1949-1950, 1950-1951, 1954-1955, 1956-1957, 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
FAR Rabat
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
11
5
 1987–88, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
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
–
 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

Top scorers

Season Player Team Goals
1966–67 Morocco Abdelatif ChiadmiDifaa El Jadida18
1967–68 Morocco Hassan ChichaDifaa El Jadida19
1968–69 Morocco Ahmed FarasChabab Mohammédia16
1972–73 Morocco Ahmed FarasChabab Mohammédia16
1974–75 Morocco Hassan ChichaDifaa El Jadida12
1976–77 Morocco Mohamed BoussatiKAC Kenitra17
1979–80 Morocco Idris OuadichAssociation sportive des FAR15
1980–81 Morocco Mohamed BoussatiKAC Kenitra17
1981–82 Morocco Mohamed BoussatiKAC Kenitra25
1982–83 Morocco Abdeslam LaghrissiAssociation Sportive des FAR14
1983–84 Morocco Mjidou
Morocco Tmimi		Wydad Casablanca
Mouloudia d'Oujda		11
1984–85 Morocco BoushabaRenaissance Berkane13
1985–86 Morocco Hassan Nader
Morocco Mohammed Chaouch		Wydad Casablanca
Kawkab Marrakech		13
1986–87 Morocco Abderrazak KhairiAssociation Sportive des FAR12
1987–88 Morocco Lahcen AnaflousAssociation Sportive des FAR17
1988–89 Morocco Hassan NaderWydad Casablanca18
1989–90 Morocco Abdeslam LaghrissiAssociation Sportive des FAR22
1990–91 Morocco Lahcen AnaflousAssociation Sportive des FAR15
1991–92 Morocco Lahcen AnaflousAssociation Sportive des FAR11
1992–93 Morocco Youssef FertoutWydad Casablanca18
1993–94 Morocco Ahmed BahjaKawkab Marrakech14
1994–95 Morocco Abdeslam LaghrissiAssociation Sportive des FAR15
1995–96 Morocco SoufirJeunesse El Massira16
1996–97 Morocco AnaneAS Salé17
1997–98 Morocco Rachid RokkiChabab Mohammédia15
1998–99 Morocco ZouineOlympique Khouribga16
1999–00 Morocco Mustapha BidoudaneFUS Rabat17
2000–01 Morocco Samir SarsarKawkab Marrakech12
2001–02 Morocco Omar ZaouitTihad Sportif Casablanca14
2002–03 Morocco Mustapha BidoudaneRaja Casablanca14
2003–04 Morocco Mustapha BidoudaneRaja Casablanca13
2004–05 Morocco Mohamed ArmoumenAssociation Sportive des FAR12
2005–06 Guinea Mamadou Ba CamaraOlympique Khouribga9
2006–07 Morocco Jawad OuaddouchAssociation Sportive des FAR12
2007–08 Morocco Abderrazak LamnasfiAssociation Sportive des FAR13
2008–09 Morocco Mustapha AllaouiAssociation Sportive des FAR14
2009–10 Morocco Omar HassiWidad Fez12
2010–11 Morocco Jawad OuaddouchAssociation Sportive des FAR11
2011–12 Chad Karl Max BarthelemyDifaa El Jadida17
2012–13 Morocco Abderazak HamdallahOlympic Safi15
2013–14 Morocco Zouhaur Naim
Ivory Coast Zoumana Kone		Moghreb Tétouan
Hassania Agadir		11
2014–15 Gabon Malick EvounaWydad Casablanca16
2015–16 Morocco Mahdi NaghmiAssociation Sportive des FAR12
2016–17 Liberia William JeborWydad Casablanca19
2017–18 Morocco Mouhssine IajourRaja Casablanca17

See also

References

  1. ↑ "LE FUS DE RABAT CHAMPION POUR LA PREMIÈRE FOIS".
  2. ↑ La SNRT décroche les droits TV du GNF Archived July 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. www.lavieeco.com
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.