Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, revealed that the development of national football was not the result of circumstantial successes or short-term bets; rather, it was the fruit of a clear working philosophy that has relied for years on gradual building, investment in infrastructure, training and professionalism.
In a lengthy interview with the French magazine “France Football”, Lekjaa explained that the federation he heads did not operate with the logic of seeking immediate and quick results, noting that the goal was not to win a single competition or achieve an isolated accomplishment, but rather to build a cohesive football system that includes all components, from the base to the top.
In this regard, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation stressed that the work was mainly focused on in-depth training, especially in the age groups between 10 and 20 years old, as it is the crucial stage in making a player, while being careful to strengthen institutions without destroying what has been achieved in the past.
The same spokesperson pointed out that Morocco chose to broaden the scope of interest to include all components of football, not just the first team, highlighting that the national project included women's football, age groups and futsal, in addition to training human resources and modernizing working methods, within a vision aimed at reducing the gap with major football schools.
Speaking about the state of African football, Lekjaa did not hide the existence of a clear gap between Africa and Europe, considering that this “difference” is not only due to financial capabilities, but mainly to the method of organization, governance and continuity of work, stressing that Morocco chose to face this challenge by building a special model that relies on institutional stability, quality infrastructure and integration into its continental and international environment.
The same official also commented on the experience of organizing the 2030 World Cup jointly by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, considering it a historic milestone, not only in terms of organization, but also in terms of symbolic and sporting significance, as it brings together Africa and Europe for the first time in a single global event.
Fouzi Lekjaa, who was appointed by King Mohammed VI on October 5, 2023 as president of the “2030 World Cup Committee”, emphasized that this event could be a starting point for rethinking new forms of football cooperation between the two continents.
In this context, the guest of the French magazine “France Football” presented the idea of creating joint European-African competitions, considering that the question is no longer “Is it possible?” but rather “How can it be organized in a smart and balanced way?”
Lekjaa explained that such competitions, if well thought out, can contribute to raising the added value of African football, providing greater exposure for talents, and promoting sporting convergence between continents, away from the logic of domination or consumption.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation stressed that Morocco not only aspires to organize major events, but also seeks to play a pivotal role in the development of African football, through sharing experiences, improving governance, and contributing to the training of personnel, stressing that the success of any football project remains dependent on clarity of vision and investment in people before results.
Fouzi Lekjaa concluded by emphasizing that the post-World Cup 2030 phase requires a new way of thinking about the future of football, both at the African level and at the global level, considering that Morocco is ready to play its full role in this transformation, based on an accumulated experience that is based on quiet work, long-term planning and balanced partnerships.
