The university president defends Morocco's strong presence in African football institutions.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, opened his heart to the French magazine "Onze Mondial," discussing the development of Moroccan football over the past decade and the major transformations it has undergone in terms of training, results, and international positioning.
Lekjaa clarified that the starting point was not just in 2014, saying: “Things did not start in 2014 with my presidency of the federation, but go back to before that within a comprehensive development model led by His Majesty the King, where youth occupies a central position in this vision, as it is a fundamental lever for development.”
He added that football is a pivotal part of this national project, stating: “Sport, especially football, was part of a clear roadmap defined during the sports forums, which focused on professionalism, governance, and the development of infrastructures.”
Speaking about the centrality of youth, Lekjaa emphasized that the main challenge was both educational and developmental, explaining: “All the programs we launched target Moroccan youth, including study-sport programs that enable thousands of girls and boys to play football while continuing their studies at the same time.”
Regarding the transformation of Moroccan football, the president of the federation considered that the Mohammed VI Academy represented the real beginning, before a pivotal moment came with the World Cup in Qatar, where he said: “The real transformation began with the inauguration of the Mohammed VI Academy, then the Qatar World Cup confirmed that the path was on the right track, and that we are capable of competing at the highest levels.”
Lekjaa spoke about future ambitions, confirming that the goal is no longer just participation, but competing for titles, saying: “We no longer settle for participation; today we are in a logic of winning and striving for major titles, and continuously proving ourselves at the highest level.”