Sunday 07 December 2025

Sunday 07 December 2025

Togo’s Football Federation President Sees Mohammed VI Football Academy as Catalyst for Morocco’s Football Renaissance

Lomé – In a testament to the thriving state of Moroccan soccer, Togolese Football Federation (FTF) President Guy Kossi Akpovy highlighted the pivotal role played by the Mohammed VI Football Academy. Akpovy emphasized that the academy stands as a beacon of the burgeoning Moroccan soccer scene, underscoring the profound interest exhibited by HM King Mohammed VI in the sport’s development.

Morocco has embraced structural reforms aimed at propelling its football to new heights, with the Mohammed VI Football Academy emerging as a major driver of this transformative agenda, according to the FTF President’s statement to MAP.

Established in 2009, the academy has injected renewed vigor into Moroccan football through its commitment to providing high-level training. Akpovy lauded the Kingdom as a trailblazer in talent development, not only in Africa but on a global scale, citing the academy as a model to emulate.

“I had the honor of visiting the facilities of the Mohammed VI Academy. I believe that Moroccan football is very fortunate to have such a structure with high-quality sports facilities and training grounds. It is an excellent framework that promotes the growth of Moroccan football,” remarked Akpovy, expressing admiration for the academy’s infrastructure.

The success of the Mohammed VI Academy is evidenced by the emergence of football talents such as Youssef En-Nesyri and Nayef Aguerd, who have become integral members of the national team. Akpovy, also a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), noted the academy’s impact on Morocco’s unprecedented achievement at the last World Cup in Qatar, where the team reached the semi-finals.

“At the last World Cup in Qatar, Morocco honored the entire Africa by reaching, for the first time, the semi-finals of a World Cup. This is not a coincidence. In reality, the systematic approach of Moroccan training has a considerable impact on the performance of the national team. It is a true source of inspiration for my country, Togo,” emphasized Akpovy.

Spanning approximately 18 hectares, the Mohammed VI Football Academy, with investments totaling around MAD 140 million, adheres to the standards of world-class European training centers. It has been meticulously designed to provide young Moroccans with optimal conditions for receiving top-tier training, enabling them to progress to leading clubs in Morocco and Europe.

MAP

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 Morocco international Achraf Hakimi, currently sidelined with an ankle injury, said he was optimistic about returning to the pitch at the start of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Canal+ reported.

Morocco’s team captain, recently crowned Best African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025, shared encouraging news about his condition, expressing his hope to take part in the Atlas Lions’ opening AFCON match, the French channel reported.

“That’s good news, and it’s very impressive. He shows tremendous energy and the determination to recover 100%,” said a journalist from the channel who spoke with the PSG right-back. The journalist added that Hakimi will still need to wear his orthopedic boots for at least another ten days.

“The player thanked warmly the team surrounding him, which is a steady one. Here lies the secret of the success,” said the same source.

Highly prolific, Achraf Hakimi has built an impressive record, winning the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid, the German Super Cup with Borussia Dortmund, as well as the Italian championship with Inter Milan.

Ahead of the upcoming AFCON, which will be held in Morocco, the Atlas Lions will face the Comoros, Mali, and Zambia in the group stage on December 21, 26, and 29, respectively.

The Moroccan national football team won 1-0 against Mozambique in a friendly match played Friday evening at the Grand Stade de Tangier. 

The only goal of the match was scored by midfielder Azzedine Ounahi in the 7th minute of the first half. 

The Moroccan team will face its Ugandan counterpart in the second friendly match scheduled during this international break, on Tuesday at the Grand Stade de Tangier. 

These two friendly matches are part of the national team’s preparations for its participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host from December 21 to January 18.

Moroccan Watford forward Othmane Maamaa won the Best Young Player of the Year award during the CAF Awards ceremony, held Wednesday in Rabat.

Maamaa had previously been named Best Player at the U20 World Cup held last October in Chile, which was won by the Atlas Lion Cubs.

The Moroccan national team goalkeeper and Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) player, Yassine Bounou, was named Africa’s Best Goalkeeper for 2025 during the CAF Awards ceremony held Wednesday in Rabat.

Recognized for his outstanding performances with the Atlas Lions, Bounou was also selected in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI, held last summer in the United States.

Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi was named African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony, held Wednesday evening in Rabat.

In 2025, Hakimi won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Ligue 1, the French Cup, the Trophée des Champions, and the UEFA Super Cup.

He was also a key figure in the remarkable qualification of the Atlas Lions for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Egyptian Mohamed Salah, Liverpool forward, and Nigerian Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray striker, were also contenders for the African Player of the Year award.

The award was presented to Hakimi by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Morocco’s national head coach Walid Regragui unveiled the 27-player squad on Friday to take part in the upcoming friendly games against Mozambique and Uganda.

The list features the return of Romain Saïss and strikers Soufiane Rahimi and Sofiane Diop, the first call-up for PSV Eindhoven’s Anass Salah-Eddine, and the absence of Achraf Hakimi due to injury.

The Atlas Lions will play two friendly fixtures against Mozambique and Uganda on November 14 and 18, respectively, at the Grand Stade de Tanger (8 p.m.), as part of their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Morocco will play in Group A of the AFCON, to be held from December 21 to January 18, alongside Comoros, Mali, and Zambia.

Here follows the list of players called up:

– Goalkeepers: Mounir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Mehdi Lahrar (Raja Casablanca)

– Defenders: Romain Saïss (Al-Sadd/Qatar), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United/England), Nayef Aguered (Marseille/France), Adam Masina (Torino/Italy), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-najma/Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/Egypt), Youssef Belammari (Raja Casablanca), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands).

– Midfielders: Azeddine Ounahi (Girona/Spain), Bilal El Khannous (Stuttgart/Germany), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Oussama Targhaline (Feynoord/Netherlands), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis/Spain), Neil El Ainaoui (AS Roma/Italy), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Leverkusen/Germany).

– Forwards: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/Spain), Chemsddine Talbi (Sunderland/England), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbache/Turkey), Hamza Igamane (Lille/France), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos/Greece), Ilias Akhomach (Villareal/Spain), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/Spain), Sofiane Diop (Nice/France), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain FC/United Arab Emirates).