Monday 02 June 2025

Monday 02 June 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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The friendlies form part of the national squad’s build-up to the tournament, where Morocco has been drawn in Group B alongside Japan, New Caledonia, and Portugal.

Morocco’s national head coach Walid Regragui unveiled on Tuesday the 27-player squad selected for the upcoming friendly fixtures against Tunisia and Benin, scheduled for June 6 and 9 at the Fez Sports Complex.

Kick-off for both games is set for 9:00 p.m. (GMT+1).


The list of the selected players is the following:

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Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia), El Mehdi Benabid (Wydad Casablanca).


– Defenders:

Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Omar El Hilali (Espanyol Barcelona, Spain), Abdelkabir Abqar (Deportivo Alavés, Spain), Abdelhak Assal (RS Berkane), Jawad El Yamiq (Al Wehda FC, Saudi Arabia), Oussama El Azzouzi (Bologna FC, Italy), Adam Massina (Torino FC, Italy), Zakaria El Ouahdi (KRC Genk, Belgium), and Youssef Belaamri (Raja Casablanca).


– Midfielders:

Azzeddine Ounahi (Panathinaikos, Greece), Bilal El Khannous (Leicester City, England), Sofyan Amrabat (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands), Amir Richardson (Fiorentina, Italy), and Ismail Saibari (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)


– Forwards:

Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid, Spain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco, France), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain, UAE), Maroan Sanadi (Athletic Bilbao, Spain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos, Greece), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Hamza Igamane (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Oussama Sahraoui (Lille, France) and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis, Spain).

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Morocco’s goals were scored by Ayman Arguige (44th minute), Ismail Bakhty (86th), and Jones El Abdellaoui (90+2), while Tunisia’s lone goal came from Anis Doubal (53rd).

With this victory, Morocco tops its group with 7 points and will play the quarter-finals next Monday in Cairo against the runner-up of Group A.