MOROCCO made history at the weekend when they became the first team to win CHAN back-to-back after beating Mali 2-0 in the final played in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The CHAN triumph is by no means a fluke, but the result of painstaking planning, excellent administration and clarity of vision under the astute leadership of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president Fouzi Lekjaa.
Lekjaa has turned around Morocco’s football fortunes since taking over as FRMF president seven years ago.
Wydad Casablanca were crowned African champions in 2017 while their crosstown rivals Raja Casablanca won the Confederation Cup the following year before RS Berkane won it last year, a term in which four Moroccan clubs made it to the semi-finals of continental competitions, and the home-based national team has just retained the CHAN.
We look at some of the elements birthed out of Lekjaa’s results-yielding strategy that has led to the North African country’s success in recent years.
Excellent facilities
The Kingdom now has more than 200 synthetic pitches, about 20 world class stadiums with natural grass and lighting, five regional training centres and the state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Football Complex, a unique and outstanding facility in Africa.
After visiting the iconic Mohammed VI last year, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said: “This centre has nothing to envy to other centres in the world, and it must serve as an example.”
Good governance
The second axis of Lekjaa’s strategy is excellent governance for clubs. Governing clubs well would have a positive impact on how Moroccan teams fare in the continent as well as fast-track the development of players. A strong league would then give national team coaches a wider pool of players to pick from, hence Morocco’s dominance at the CHAN.
“The Morocco game has improved quite a lot, clubs are very professional, and the facilities are exceptional. It’s no wonder that the national team is doing well,” said Kabelo Seakanyeng, a Botswana international who turns out for second tier side Olympique Khouribga.
The country’s elite clubs are in the process of being transformed into public limited companies and have been placed under the supervision of the National Control and Management Department.
On the other hand, the FRMF provides each first division club with an annual grant of approximately 600,000 euros.
This is in addition to the financial aid and support provided to clubs participating in continental competitions by FRMF.
Clubs have, over the years, secured training centres as they drive aggressively towards developing youngsters. Raja Casablanca are just finalising the construction of an ultra-modern academy.