Friday 27 December 2024

Friday 27 December 2024

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 finishes the year 2024 ranked 14th in the world in the FIFA rankings, published on Thursday, unchanged from November.

The Atlas Lions remain the top team in Africa with 1,688.18 points, ahead of Senegal, which holds 17th place globally with 1,637.25 points.

The national football team also retains its position as the top team in the Arab world. Egypt is in second place (33rd globally) with 1,513.48 points.

Globally, there are few changes to report in the final World Rankings of the year. Argentina remains in first place, followed by France and Spain.

Angola, which played the most matches in 2024 (21), can boast of achieving the best progress of the year, climbing 32 places to 85th compared to 2023.

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Sofyan Amrabet feature in the men’s Africa Best XI of the year 2024 unveiled at the CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakech on Monday.

André Onana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Chancel Mbemba, Yves Bissouma, Franck Kessié, Mohammed Kudus, Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman complete the African Team of the Year.

Atlas Lioness Ghizlane Chebbak is in the Women’s XI of the Year, which also includes Andile Dlamini, Michelle Alozie, Karabo Dhlamini, Osinachi Ohale, Lebohang Ramalepe, Linda Motlhalo, Rasheedat Ajibade, Barbara Banda, Asisat Oshoala and Tabitha Chawinga.

Moroccan internationals, Yassine Bouno, Achraf Hakimi and Soufiane Rahimi have been shortlisted for the “The Best FIFA Men’s XI” award, the world soccer’s governing body announced on its official website on Friday.

Yassine Bouno was crowned Saudi Arabian champion with Al-Hilal, Achraf Hakimi won the French championship with Paris Saint-Germain, while Soufiane Rahimi won the Asian Champions League with Al-Aïn, where he was top scorer.

Hakimi and Rahimi also won bronze medals with the national team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Other African players in contention for a place in the FIFA XI include Gabonese and Nigerian strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ademola Lookman, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s XI awards recognize the world’s best players in their respective positions, nominating players on the basis of their performances between August 21, 2023 and August 10, 2024.

Morocco’s football national team fell down one place to 14th in the world rankings published by FIFA on Thursday.

The Atlas Lions, who dropped one place from the last FIFA ranking, remain in first place in Africa with 1688.18 points, ahead of Senegal in 17th place with 1637.25 points.

The national team also remains in first place in the Arab world ahead of Egypt in second place (33rd worldwide) with 1513.48 points.

Argentina remains at the top of the FIFA rankings, followed by France and Spain.

Here is the FIFA Top10 as of November 28, 2024:

1. Argentina

2. France

3. Spain

4. England

5. Brazil

6. Portugal

7. Netherlands

8. Belgium

9. Italy

10. Germany

 Morocco’s U20 national football team delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, defeating Libya 4-0 in Ismailia, Egypt, in the North African Football Union (UNAF) tournament, to clinch a spot in the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Goals from Mouad Dahak (21′), Naoufel El Hannach (45’+2), Ayman Arguigue (53′), and Saad El Haddad (71′) sealed the victory, solidifying Morocco’s dominance in the competition.

The team, coached by Mohamed Ouahbi, finished the tournament at the top of the standings with 10 points, recording three wins and one draw.

The next U20 AFCON, which will feature 12 teams, serves as a qualification pathway for the U20 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place next year in Chile.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially unveiled on Monday the shortlist of five finalists nominees in each of the men’s categories at CAF Awards 2024, including Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, shortlisted for African Player of the Year.

In addition to Moroccan and French club Paris Saint-Germain’s right-back, other contenders for the prestigious African Player of the Year award include Ivorian Simon Adingra (Brighton and Hove Albion), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).

In the “Young Player of the Year” category, Moroccan international Eliesse Ben Seghir, who plays for French club AS Monaco, is in the running alongside Karim Konaté (Côte d’Ivoire/Salzburg), Oumar Diakité (Côte d’Ivoire/Reims), Yankuba Minteh (Gambia/Brighton and Hove Albion) and Lamine Camara (Senegal/AS Monaco).

As for the Club of the Year category, the list of five finalists includes Berkane Renaissance alongside South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Zamalek as well as Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

The prestigious CAF Awards 2024 ceremony will take place in Marrakech on December 16.