Kénitra AC
Kénitra Athletic Club (KAC), commonly known as KAC Kénitra or Annadi Al-Qonaitiri in Arabic, is a professional football club based in Kenitra, Morocco, founded on December 5, 1938.[1] The club currently competes in Botola Pro 2, the second division of Moroccan football, having earned promotion from the third division in May 2024, and plays its home matches at Stade Municipal de Kénitra, which has a capacity of 28,000 spectators.[2] Established during the French Protectorate era, KAC is the second-oldest club founded exclusively by Moroccans and holds the fifth-best record in the Moroccan league with four championship titles.[3] KAC's early history reflects the growth of organized football in colonial Morocco, with the club quickly establishing itself as a competitive force among local teams.[3] Its most notable achievements include winning the Moroccan Championship in the 1959–60, 1972–73, 1980–81, and 1981–82 seasons, as well as securing the Moroccan Cup (Coupe du Trône) in 1960–61.[4] The club has also reached international stages, finishing as runners-up in the Arab Champions League in 1984 and advancing to the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League in 1983.[3] Beyond titles, KAC is renowned for its passionate fanbase, the Helala Boys (also known as HB 07), formed in 2006, who provide unwavering support and have become a cultural symbol in Kenitra.[3] In recent years, KAC has experienced fluctuations between divisions. The club's legacy endures through its contributions to Moroccan football development and its role in fostering community spirit in Kenitra, a city along the Sebou River.[3]History
Founding and early years
Kénitra Athletic Club was founded in 1938 in the city of Kénitra, Morocco, during the period of the French protectorate.[5] As one of the earliest clubs established by Moroccans under colonial rule, it represented local initiative in sports amid restricted opportunities for indigenous teams, which were often segregated from European ones.[3] The club's early activities centered on organizing amateur squads for community-based matches against nearby local teams, laying the groundwork for youth involvement in football as a means of social cohesion in the pre-independence era. The initial infrastructure included basic facilities in the old medina area, with the team utilizing rudimentary grounds before formal stadium development. By the mid-1940s, Kénitra AC had begun to solidify its role in regional competitions, though remaining amateur until the post-1956 transition to professional structures.Post-independence rise
Following Morocco's independence in 1956, Kénitra Athletic Club (KAC), founded in 1938 during the French protectorate, adapted to the new national context by aligning with the emerging structures of Moroccan football governance. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) was established on January 26, 1957, replacing the previous colonial-era leagues and integrating existing clubs like KAC into a unified national system under its oversight.[6] This transition marked the end of regional protectorates-based competitions and the beginning of a centralized framework, with KAC retaining its name while benefiting from the broader decolonization of sports institutions. No major name change occurred for the club itself, though the host city was officially renamed Kénitra from Port Lyautey in 1956, symbolizing national reclamation. KAC entered the inaugural season of the Botola, Morocco's top national league, in 1956–57 as one of the founding members, competing in a 16-team format organized by the FRMF. The club showed steady adaptation, finishing 11th with 10 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses in 30 matches, accumulating 59 points and demonstrating resilience in the new competitive environment.[7] Improvement followed in the 1957–58 season, where KAC climbed to 5th place out of 14 teams, recording 12 wins, 8 draws, and 8 losses in 28 games for 60 points under the 3-2-1 scoring system, highlighting growing tactical cohesion.[8] By 1958–59, despite a slight dip to 9th in a 13-team league (9 wins, 8 draws, 9 losses in 26 matches for 52 points), the club's presence solidified its status among Morocco's emerging professional outfits.[9] The late 1950s culminated in KAC's first major milestone: a dominant performance in the 1959–60 Botola season, where the team secured the league championship with a strong record, setting the stage for further national recognition. This debut-era success in the top flight underscored the club's effective integration and gradual rise from mid-table stability. During this period, KAC relied on the Kenitra Municipal Stadium, inaugurated in 1941 and serving as the primary venue, which supported early training and match operations amid post-independence infrastructure growth.[10] Foundations for youth development were laid through participation in national youth competitions under FRMF auspices, fostering local talent integration into the senior squad by the late 1960s.[11]Golden era achievements
Kénitra AC's golden era, spanning the 1970s to the early 1980s, was marked by three Botola Pro titles and a dominant presence in Moroccan football, building on their earlier success with the 1961 Moroccan Throne Cup. This period showcased the club's ability to compete at the highest level through consistent performances and key individual contributions. The 1961 victory represented their first major trophy, setting a foundation for future achievements.[12] The club's inaugural major honor came in the 1960–61 Moroccan Throne Cup, where Kénitra AC defeated Wydad AC 1–0 in the final held on April 23, 1961. The lone goal was scored by Abdeslam in the 65th minute, securing the title in Kénitra AC's first-ever cup final appearance. This triumph held significant importance as the club's breakthrough in national competitions, boosting morale and establishing their reputation post-independence. As the first major trophy for the club, it symbolized their emergence as a competitive force in Moroccan football.[12] In the 1972–73 Botola Pro season, Kénitra AC clinched their second league title with a record of 12 wins, 12 draws, and 6 losses across 30 matches, scoring 39 goals while conceding 30 to finish with 66 points under the 3-2-1 scoring system. Their success was built on defensive resilience and steady results, allowing them to edge out rivals like Maghreb AS Fès, who finished second. Standout performances included contributions from midfielders Houssaine Anafal, a Moroccan international from 1973 to 1979 who provided stability in the engine room, and forward Mohamed Boussati, who began emerging as a key attacker during this era. The season culminated in dramatic circumstances, though specific match details highlight their consistency in a tightly contested campaign.[13][14] Kénitra AC's third title arrived in the 1980–81 Botola Pro, where they topped the table with 22 wins, 9 draws, and 7 losses in 38 matches, amassing 75 points and a goal difference of 61–27. This victory came by a narrow three-point margin over FUS Rabat, underscoring their attacking prowess led by forwards who capitalized on defensive setups. The season featured strong away form and crucial wins against top challengers, maintaining momentum from mid-season onward.[15] The pinnacle of the golden era was the 1981–82 Botola Pro campaign, with Kénitra AC securing back-to-back titles by finishing first with 19 wins, 11 draws, and 4 losses in 34 matches, earning 69 points and a 41–23 goal tally. They prevailed over Wydad AC by two points, thanks to a robust defense that limited concessions while their attack, spearheaded by Mohamed Boussati's league-record 25 goals, delivered decisive performances in key fixtures. Boussati's scoring exploits, including multiple braces in important games, were instrumental in sustaining the club's dominance. During this era, Kénitra AC's playing style evolved toward defensive solidity, evident in low goals conceded across title-winning seasons—such as 23 in 1981–82—complemented by effective counter-attacks that leveraged speed from players like Anafal and Boussati. This approach, emphasizing organization and quick transitions, was a hallmark under influential figures including Boujemaâ Benkhrif, who transitioned from a defensive player in the 1970s to a coaching role, contributing to the tactical framework.[16]Decline and recent developments
Following a successful period in the 1970s and early 1980s, Kénitra Athletic Club began experiencing a prolonged decline from the mid-1980s onward, plagued by administrative instability and inconsistent performances that led to multiple relegations from the Botola Pro.[17] The club's challenges were exacerbated by frequent management changes and internal conflicts, including excessive interference from the club president in coaching decisions, which undermined team cohesion and strategic planning.[17] Despite these issues, Kénitra AC demonstrated resilience by securing Botola Pro D2 titles in 1976 and 2002, each time earning promotion back to the top flight for brief stints before further drops due to ongoing organizational turmoil.[17] In a more recent turnaround, the club won promotion to Botola Pro 2 in 2024 after a strong campaign in the third division, marking a return to the second tier.[17] The 2024–25 season was turbulent, marked by management chaos and poor results that placed the club in a precarious position early in the year. However, KAC finished 12th with 35 points, avoiding relegation.[18] As of November 2025, the club continues to compete in Botola Pro 2 for the 2025–26 season, with ongoing efforts to stabilize through youth development programs and potential expansion to a women's team.[17][19]Club identity
Stadium and facilities
Kénitra AC's primary home venue is the Stade Municipal de Kénitra, which has served as the club's main stadium since its early years in the 1940s. The facility, owned by the Kenitra Municipality and opened in 1941, has a capacity of 15,000 spectators and features a natural grass pitch measuring 105 meters by 68 meters.[20] Seating is arranged across covered stands, with ongoing upgrades enhancing spectator access and comfort. The stadium has undergone significant renovations, including improvements to spectator amenities in 2017 that preserved its historical architecture while modernizing infrastructure. Further refurbishments, initiated around 2015 and continuing into 2024–2025, involve rebuilding the main pitch by specialist firm Gregori International to meet contemporary standards. In 2025, the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) assumed oversight of the project to complete the infrastructure and increase capacity to 30,000–35,000 places.[21] These works have included floodlighting enhancements to support evening matches and better illumination overall. Adjacent to the stadium are the club's training grounds, which include dedicated pitches for the youth academy and administrative offices for daily operations. The youth academy facilities have supported the development of emerging talents, such as defender Nayef Aguerd, who began his career there before advancing to national and international levels. Beyond club matches, the Stade Municipal de Kénitra hosts community events and has occasionally accommodated international fixtures, contributing to local sports culture. It has also been the site of key title-winning games during the club's golden era.Colours, crest, and kit suppliers
The traditional colours of Kénitra AC are green and white, adopted upon the club's founding in 1938 and symbolizing the lush local flora of the Kenitra region as well as elements of the Moroccan national flag.[22] These colours have remained consistent throughout the club's history, earning the team the nickname "Les Verts" (The Greens) among supporters and in official contexts.[23] The club's crest, updated in 2000 to incorporate Arabic script reading "KAC 1938," honours the founding year while maintaining core green and white design elements for continuity in branding.[24] It aligns with the team's "Sebou Knights" moniker derived from the nearby Sebou River. Kénitra AC's kit suppliers have evolved over time, with the current partnership held by Comba Sport since 2024, producing the home kit as a predominantly green jersey paired with white shorts and green socks.[25] Earlier deals included Joma from 2015 to 2020.[23] As of 2025, sponsorship deals include front-of-shirt branding from local businesses such as regional financial institutions and agricultural firms, supporting the club's operations in Botola Pro 2.[26]Achievements
Domestic honours
Kénitra Athletic Club has secured four Botola Pro championships, establishing itself as a prominent force in Moroccan football during its golden era. The club's inaugural title came in the 1959–60 season, where they finished tied on 54 points with Forces Armées Royales Rabat after 24 matches (11 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses, 37 goals for, 21 against), ultimately clinching the championship via a 3–1 playoff victory over FAR Rabat, their key rivals that year.[10] In the 1972–73 season, Kénitra edged out Maghreb Association Sportive de Fès by a single point (66 to 65) after 30 matches (12 wins, 12 draws, 6 losses, 39–30 goal difference), securing the title in a tightly contested campaign marked by the infamous "Car Dial Fez" incident involving administrative disputes.[13] They repeated as champions in 1980–81, topping Fath Union Sport Rabat by 5 points (91 to 86) with a dominant record of 22 wins, 9 draws, and 7 losses in 38 matches (61–27 goal difference).[15] Their final league triumph arrived in the 1981–82 season, where they amassed 83 points from 19 wins, 11 draws, and 4 losses in 34 matches (41–23 goal difference), capping a remarkable back-to-back success.[27][4] In domestic cup competitions, Kénitra's sole Moroccan Throne Cup victory occurred in 1961, defeating Wydad Athletic Club 1–0 in the final with a goal from Abdeslam in the 65th minute, marking their first major silverware post-independence and a milestone against one of Morocco's traditional powerhouses.[12] Kénitra has also excelled in the Botola Pro D2, winning the second-division title twice to earn promotion to the top flight. Their 1975–76 championship followed a relegation from the elite level, demonstrating quick recovery through consistent performance in the lower tier.[28] Similarly, the 2001–02 triumph came after another demotion, allowing the club to return to Botola Pro and stabilize their top-division presence amid fluctuating fortunes.[28][4]League and cup records
Kénitra AC has competed extensively in the Botola Pro, Morocco's premier football league, accumulating 240 appearances with 57 wins, 84 draws, and 99 losses, resulting in 255 points and a goal difference of -81, placing them 15th in the all-time standings.[29] Their performance highlights include four league titles, achieved in the 1959–60, 1972–73, 1980–81, and 1981–82 seasons, representing their highest finishes at the top of the table.[30] The club also secured runner-up positions in 1978–79 and 1984–85, underscoring a period of competitive strength in the top flight.[30] Throughout their history, Kénitra AC has navigated multiple relegations to the Botola Pro 2 and subsequent promotions, reflecting cycles of resurgence. Key promotions occurred after winning the second-division title in 1976 and 2002, allowing returns to the elite level. A notable relegation took place in the 2016–17 season, marking a drop from the Botola Pro following struggles in the latter stages of that campaign. These movements have contributed to a win rate of approximately 24% in top-flight matches, emphasizing resilience amid varying fortunes. In the Moroccan Throne Cup, Kénitra AC has demonstrated strong knockout pedigree, winning the competition once in 1961 and reaching the final on three additional occasions in 1969, 1976, and 1991, where they fell short against their opponents.[12] Beyond their 1961 triumph, the club's deepest runs in the 1970s included a final appearance in 1976, highlighting their ability to advance far in the tournament during that era despite not securing further silverware. These cup performances represent milestones in a record that prioritizes occasional breakthroughs over consistent dominance.| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1959–60 | Botola Pro | 1st place (Champions)[30] |
| 1972–73 | Botola Pro | 1st place (Champions)[30] |
| 1980–81 | Botola Pro | 1st place (Champions)[30] |
| 1981–82 | Botola Pro | 1st place (Champions)[30] |
| 1961 | Throne Cup | Winners[12] |
| 1976 | Botola Pro D2 | Champions (Promotion) |
| 2002 | Botola Pro D2 | Champions (Promotion) |
Players and staff
Current squad
As of November 2025, Kénitra AC's first-team squad for the 2025–26 Botola 2 season features a mix of experienced Moroccan players and international talents from Africa, with an average age of 27.2 years and nine foreign players comprising 21.4% of the roster.[31] The team is led by captain Hassan Khadri in defense, with recent additions including centre-forward Aziz Ennakhli on a free transfer from SCC Mohammédia.Goalkeepers
| Squad No. | Name | Age | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Adil Cherkaoui | 28 | Morocco |
| - | Ismail Qamoum | 29 | Morocco |
| 1 | Saad El Khaloufi | 31 | Morocco |
| 22 | Boubacar Sidiki Camara | 20 | Mali |
Defenders
| Squad No. | Name | Age | Nationality | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | N. Traoré | 25 | Côte d'Ivoire | Defender |
| 59 | Alioune N'Diaye | 35 | Senegal | Centre-Back |
| - | Mouad Khoumari | 25 | Morocco | Centre-Back |
| - | El Mehdi Bouhamida | 25 | Morocco | Centre-Back |
| 15 | Hassan Khadri | 30 | Morocco | Centre-Back |
| - | Adham Khalfi | 23 | Morocco | Left-Back |
| 46 | Akram Mejdoub | 25 | Morocco | Left-Back |
| - | Ayoub Daoud | 27 | Morocco | Left-Back |
| 3 | Mohammed Likram | 21 | Morocco | Left-Back |
| - | Abderrazak Ghazouat | 26 | Morocco | Right-Back |
| 21 | Mohamed Douik | 26 | Morocco | Right-Back |
| 2 | Mehdi Dibbi | 29 | Morocco | Right-Back |
Midfielders
| Squad No. | Name | Age | Nationality | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Jalal Daoudi | 37 | Morocco | Defensive Midfield |
| - | Mehdi Oubila | 33 | Morocco | Defensive Midfield |
| - | Reda Barnoussi | 24 | Morocco | Midfielder |
| 5 | Mohammed Issam El Farssi | 32 | Morocco | Midfielder |
| 6 | Sekou Diawara | 21 | Mali | Midfielder |
| 8 | Mohamed Dadssi | 26 | Morocco | Midfielder |
| 11 | Ahmed Ktioui | 24 | Morocco | Midfielder |
| 14 | Ahmed Bennour | 25 | Morocco | Midfielder |
| 28 | Issam Naji | 23 | Morocco | Midfielder |
| - | Isaac Arthur | 20 | Ghana | Central Midfield |
| 16 | Karim Ait Mohamed | 25 | Morocco | Central Midfield |
| 25 | Rachid Abouzhar | 34 | Morocco | Central Midfield |
| 26 | Zakary Yacobi Kandoussi | 19 | Morocco/Canada | Central Midfield |
| 32 | Salaheddine Cofi | 22 | Morocco | Central Midfield |
| - | Rian Jamai | 24 | United States/Morocco | Attacking Midfield |
Forwards
| Squad No. | Name | Age | Nationality | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Youssef Lakhal | 25 | Morocco | Right Winger |
| 17 | Amin Tighazoui | 36 | Morocco/France | Right Winger |
| 27 | Badie Aouk | 30 | Morocco | Right Winger |
| 29 | Youness Oubrik | 28 | Morocco | Right Winger |
| - | Aziz Ennakhli | 35 | Morocco | Centre-Forward |
| - | Amjad Sabile | 23 | Morocco | Centre-Forward |
| - | Anouar El Azizi | 32 | Morocco | Centre-Forward |
| 9 | Amirou Kanté | 26 | Senegal | Centre-Forward |
| 24 | Soufyane Saalaoui | 24 | Morocco | Striker |
| 71 | Rodrigue Kam | 25 | Burkina Faso | Centre-Forward |
| 87 | Oumar Diarra | 24 | Mali | Centre-Forward |