Latest news with #MoroccanFootballFederation
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Amine Adli Reflects on His Mother's Loss
Moroccan international Amine Adli has opened up about the death of his mother and how the national team helped him cope during a deeply personal tragedy. The Bayer Leverkusen winger, who has not been called up for Morocco's friendlies against Benin and Tunisia, said he had just returned from a holiday with his mother in Dubai when disaster struck. 'I had joined the national team for AFCON preparations, then got a call from my sister—my mother was ill. I flew to France immediately. Four days later, she passed away. It was sudden and hard to accept,' he told Instant Foot . Adli said the Moroccan Football Federation arranged for her body to be flown to Meknes for burial. 'Fouzi Lekjaa made that happen. A private jet, everything arranged. I haven't forgotten it.' He also mentioned the reaction from head coach Walid Regragui. 'He told me, 'If you want to come to AFCON, come. If not, no pressure.' That sort of response mattered. It wasn't a football conversation.' Adli said it was this kind of treatment that made him feel part of something larger than sport. 'It felt like being around people who cared about more than matches and goals.' His absence from the current squad is not linked to any fallout. Regragui said during the press conference to announce the squad list that the door remains open and Adli should continue working hard to earn a call-up to the national team again. Tags: Amine adliFouzi LekjaaFRMFMoroccoWalid Regragui
Morocco World
21-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Pledges More Sports Infrastructure Projects as AFCON, World Cup Approach
Rabat – President of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa emphasized the importance of organizing sporting events to boost the country's economic development. Lekjaa made his remarks on Tuesday as part of the 2025 Global Growth Conference (GGC), where he participated in a panel to discuss Morocco's efforts in upgrading the country's infrastructure and development programs in anticipation of major sports events like the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup. During the event, Lekjaa reviewed the major events Morocco will host between 2025 and 2030, including the WAFCON, which will take place from July 5-26, the FIFA U17 Women World Cup between October and November and the AFCON from December 21 to January 18. 'Morocco will continue to host major sporting events leading up to the 2030 World Cup,' he said, adding that similar major events require the upgrading of road, airport, and football infrastructure. For Lekjaa, who is also the minister delegate for the budget, similar projects represent investment opportunities worth billions of dollars. The opportunities also cover other sectors like tourism and accommodation capacity among others. 'In this investment puzzle, we have a menu of Inclusive projects,' he said, noting that the plans also include different specialties and professions, which will enable all economic operators, including startups and multinational companies to have a share in the added value generated. 'Beyond the importance of funding, this will allow for groupings and surgeries between companies and the business world,' Lekjaa added. The minister also talked about Morocco's World Cup preparation campaign, noting that the North African country considers the global tournament as an African world cup, from which 'we will take the opportunity to show that youth on both sides of the Mediterranean can exchange, coexist, and work together.' Bouchra Hajij, president of the Royal Moroccan Volleyball Federation and the African Volleyball Confederation also commented on the country's efforts to boost the development of the sports sector, noting that this domain is an important lever for economic development. She said that sport is also a 'vector for social cohesion and economic and cultural development.'
Morocco World
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Sayeh Dedicates Morocco's Historic Futsal Title to Dguig
Morocco women's futsal coach Adil Sayeh dedicated his team's dramatic Africa Cup of Nations title win to Hicham Dguig, following their 3-2 comeback victory over Tanzania in Rabat. The hosts lifted the first-ever Women's Futsal AFCON trophy after coming from 2-0 down to seal a late win in front of home fans. 'We dedicate this win to Hicham Dguig because he helped us a lot. After God, he's the one who brought me into the women's team and gave me his trust,' Sayeh said. 'Thank God I didn't let him down. He deserves this. We also won't forget the fans – they kept the belief when the players started to lose hope.' Tanzania went two up in the first half through Katunzi and Rajabu. But Morocco pulled one back before the break thanks to Dhouha Madani. Idrissiya Krich equalised in the second half, and Jasmine Damraoui scored the winner in the final minute. Sayeh said the win had special meaning because of the way the team fought back. 'We've been working hard for ten months. It was tiring, but today we saw the results. We give this trophy to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, our number one supporter,' he said. He also thanked the Moroccan Football Federation and its president, Fouzi Lekjaa, for their backing. 'The Federation gave us everything. And I thank the fans – today was tough, but they helped us get over the line.' 'The players showed real character. If we had won easily, maybe people wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. But we stayed strong and got the job done. That's what champions do.' Morocco dominated the tournament from start to finish. They topped their group with big wins over Namibia (8-1) and Cameroon (7-1), eased past Angola 5-1 in the semi-final, and came from behind to beat Tanzania in the final. The win means Morocco's women join the men's team in dominating African futsal. With this continental triumph, they have also booked their place at the Women's Futsal World Cup in the Philippines later this year.
Morocco World
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco Futsal WAFCON Tickets Go On Sale
Tickets have gone on sale for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in futsal, which will be held in Morocco from April 22 to 30. The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced on Monday that tickets are available online, with prices set at 20 dirhams for standard entry and 40 dirhams for premium seating. All matches will take place at the indoor arena of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The competition, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), brings together national teams from across the continent, in what is only the second edition of the women's tournament. It also offers two places at the FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup in the Philippines next November. Morocco faces Namibia on April 22 at 8 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT), followed by a match against Cameroon on April 24 at the same hour. Both games take place at the 10,000-seat Moulay Abdallah Sports Hall. The top team from each group of three, along with the best runner-up, qualifies for the semi-finals. The winners progress to the final, where the AFCON champions will be crowned. Morocco, already investing heavily in sports infrastructure and continental competitions, is hoping to cement its role as a leading host nation in African sport. Tags: 2025 Futsal AFCONFutsal WAFCONWAFCON
Morocco World
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Baha Targets World Cup After Morocco Lift Historic U17 AFCON Trophy
Morocco U17 head coach Nabil Baha hailed a 'historic' triumph after his side edged Mali on penalties to win the U17 Africa Cup of Nations. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Baha thanked the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), his staff, national team boss Walid Regragui, and his family for their unwavering support. 'I'm proud of the boys, proud of this title,' said Baha. 'The Federation backed us all the way. My family—my wife and kids—stood by me through everything.' Baha, who is in his first major coaching role, called the title a dream start. His son scored Morocco's opening penalty in the shootout. 'As a coach and a father, this is massive,' he said. 'I saw a video of one of the players' dads praying during the shootout. I thought he was praying for his son, but it turned out he was praying for mine – Ziyad. That's the kind of unity we've built in this squad.' Baha never doubted his players despite the fatigue and pressure of a final. He praised goalkeeper Chouaib Belaârouche for his composure and crucial saves throughout the tournament. 'We always believed. I knew we had the edge on penalties with Chouaib in goal,' said Baha. The Morocco coach expects more from this team. He plans a short celebration before shifting focus to the U17 World Cup. 'We'll enjoy this for a week, then we prepare for the World Cup. This squad has ambition. We want to go far,' he said. Baha also praised the overall level of the competition. 'We faced tough sides—Ivory Coast, South Africa. African football keeps growing,' he said. 'Why not see three African teams in a World Cup semi-final one day?' He ended with a message to the fans: 'This win belongs to you. Every family, every city—you all played a part. Thank you. This is your trophy too.' The Atlas Cubs qualified for the U17 FIFA World Cup after progressing to the quarter-finals of the AFCON, alongside Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia. The tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time and will be held in Qatar from November 3-27. Tags: Moroccou17 afconU17 MoroccoU17 world cup
