2007 Teams - Royal Armed Forces (ASFAR) Team Profile

Royal Armed Forces were the first Morocco side to win the MTN CAF Champions League in1985, when they beat AS Bilima of the former Zaire easily in the final. But their success was marked in the semifinal where they had overcome the Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek.

Royal Armed Forces have also featured in the final of two other African club competitions. In 1997 they lost to Etoile Sahel in the African Cup Winners’ Cup final and to the same side again in a controversial finish to the 2006 African Confederation Cup.

In November 2005, the Moroccans beat Dolphin FC 3-1 on aggregate to win the second edition of the new African Confederation Cup.

The army club, who are based in Rabat, have won a record 11 Morocco league tiles, a distinction they share with Wydad Casablanca. In 2006, Royal Armed Forces were second to Wydad in the championship race after winning the title in 2005.

At the end of the 2006/2007 season, Royal Armed Forces finished second again in the Morocco championship, this time to Olympique Khouribga. It means they have already qualified for the 2008 MTN CAF Champions League.

The legends of the club include Mohamed Timoumi, crowned African Footballer of the Year in 1985 for his role in the club’s Chaps Cup success. The side also included international Abdelmajid Lamris, Lahcen Ouadani, Abdelleh Haidamou and was coached by the popular Brazilian Jose Faria.

Frenchman Guy Cluseau helped the team to six titles between 1961 and 1970 while Faria won two championships and three Throne Cups as well as the 1985 African Champions Cup.