Established 1956

Morocco

Botola Pro

Follow League

Reigning Champion

RS Berkane

2024–25 Winners · Title #1

RS Berkane's first league title, breaking the grip of the Casablanca and Rabat giants.

CAF Champions League

Competition Format

Historical Legacy

22 Record Titles (Wydad AC)

70 Years Active

16 Clubs

Most Titled Clubs

WYD

Wydad AC

Last: 2021–22

Titles

RAJ

Raja CA

Last: 2023–24

Titles

AS FAR

Last:

Titles

Botola Pro Format and Structure

The Botola Pro is the top division of Moroccan football, a 16-club league run by the Ligue Nationale de Football Professionnel under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

Each club plays 30 matches in a double round-robin, 240 across the season, from August to May. The bottom two go down to Botola Pro 2 and the top two of the second tier replace them. The leading finishers enter the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.

The league turned professional in 2011–12, when Moghreb Tetouan were crowned the first professional-era champions. Inwi has been the title sponsor since 2020, matches are broadcast on Arryadia, and the league introduced a virtual offside line in October 2020.

Wydad, Raja and AS FAR: The Clubs That Shaped the Botola

Wydad AC hold a record 22 Botola titles, while Raja CA and AS FAR share second place with 13 each, and the three are the only clubs never relegated from Morocco's top flight.

AS FAR, the Rabat army club, were the first to win four in a row, between 1961 and 1964. Raja CA went further with six straight from 1995 to 2001, and in 2023–24 became the first club to win the Botola unbeaten, finishing on a record 72 points. Wydad's tally has grown across eras, including back-to-back titles in 2020–21 and 2021–22.

The Casablanca derby between Wydad and Raja, who share Stade Mohammed V, is one of the fiercest in African football, with more than 150 meetings. RS Berkane broke the pattern in 2024–25 by winning their first ever title.

Wydad AC: 22 titles (record), most recent 2021–22
Raja CA: 13 titles, unbeaten 2023–24 champions
AS FAR: 13 titles, first to win four in a row (1961–64)
RS Berkane: first title in 2024–25

Continental Record and IFFHS Ranking

Moroccan clubs have won six CAF Champions League titles, three for Wydad AC and three for Raja CA, and the IFFHS has ranked the Botola among Africa's top three leagues every year since 2018.

The IFFHS named the Botola the third-best African league of the 2011 to 2020 decade, behind only the Egyptian Premier League and the South African top flight. Wydad reached the FIFA Club World Cup in 2017 and again in 2025, and Raja appeared at the 2013 edition. That continental strength is the league's main calling card beyond its borders.

From Protectorate Football to Professionalism

Organised football in Morocco dates to 1915 under colonial associations, but the FRMF-governed Botola began in 1956, weeks after independence, with Wydad AC winning the first title.

The colonial-era championships, run first under the USFSA from 1915 and then the LMFA from 1922, were dominated by French settler clubs. The Moroccan-governed league started in the 1956–57 season. The 16-club format settled in 1988, the professional era began in 2011–12, and the modern Botola has produced its two most striking seasons recently: Raja's unbeaten 2023–24 and RS Berkane's breakthrough 2024–25.

Key Stadiums in the Botola Pro

Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca hosts the Casablanca derby between Wydad AC and Raja CA, while Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat is home to AS FAR.

Grounds are spread across the country, from Tangier and Marrakech to Agadir and Berkane. Morocco's co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal is driving a wave of stadium work, including a new arena in Casablanca, designed by Populous, that will become the country's largest.

Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca: Wydad AC and Raja CA
Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat: AS FAR
Grand Stade de Marrakech: Kawkab Marrakech
Stade Ibn Batouta, Tangier; Grand Stade d'Agadir; Stade Municipal de Berkane

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams play in the Botola Pro?

16 clubs, a format stable since 1988. The bottom two are relegated to Botola Pro 2, and the top two from Botola Pro 2 are promoted.

Who has won the most Botola Pro titles?

Wydad AC, with 22 titles. Raja CA and AS FAR are joint second on 13 each. Those three are also the only clubs never to have been relegated from the top flight.

Who are the current Botola Pro champions?

RS Berkane won the 2024–25 Botola Pro, their first ever league title. The previous season was won by Raja CA, who went unbeaten with 21 wins and 9 draws for a record 72 points.

When did the Botola Pro become professional?

The first professional season was 2011–12, won by Moghreb Tetouan. The Ligue Nationale de Football Professionnel was set up to run the professional league.

What is the Casablanca derby?

The derby between Wydad AC and Raja CA, who share Stade Mohammed V. The two have met more than 150 times and it is one of the fiercest rivalries in African football.

Is the Botola Pro a strong league?

Yes. The IFFHS has ranked it among Africa's top three leagues every year since 2018 and third-best of the 2011–2020 decade. Moroccan clubs have won six CAF Champions League titles, three each for Wydad AC and Raja CA.

Last updated 2026-06-26.