Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, has described Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major step toward successfully organizing the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
In an interview with Argentina’s Olé newspaper, Lekjaa highlighted that Morocco’s football development journey began nearly 25 years ago under a royal vision aimed at enhancing all aspects of the sport, both socially and economically. “Thanks to the will of King Mohammed VI, we started working on improving Moroccan football, alongside the development of infrastructure across the country,” he said.
Lekjaa emphasized that Morocco has become a leading platform for sports infrastructure, with state-of-the-art stadiums and a high-speed rail network enabling the country to host major events such as AFCON 2025 and the 2030 World Cup.
Regarding AFCON 2025, he expressed confidence that it will be “the best tournament in African history” and an essential test run for the World Cup. He assured that preparations are progressing smoothly, adding, “If any organizational challenges arise, we will identify and address them during AFCON to ensure a flawless World Cup in 2030.”
Beyond sporting success, Morocco seeks to use football as a tool for cultural exchange and the promotion of global values such as tolerance and peace. “Morocco is not only focused on winning matches but also on spreading a message of tolerance and mutual respect between different cultures, whether Muslim, Jewish, or Christian,” Lekjaa said.
Discussing Argentina’s football legacy, Lekjaa expressed admiration for Lionel Messi and the country’s ability to produce exceptional players. “Argentina is an inspiration for us. We hope to see more players like Messi in the future. We would love to play a friendly match against Argentina to celebrate football and share a memorable experience with our fans,” he noted.
Lekjaa’s vision extends beyond improving the Moroccan national team. He is also committed to enhancing the football education system. “We are not just focused on developing great players, but also on teaching young athletes fundamental values such as accepting victory and defeat with grace and respecting others,” he said.
With a strong commitment to sports infrastructure, international collaboration, and player development, Morocco is positioning itself as a rising force in global football, with its eyes firmly set on a successful 2030 World Cup.
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