Friday 06 September 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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With this “resounding victory,” the Moroccan football team has achieved a great feat, attaining its goal of winning an Olympic medal for the first time, the Spanish newspaper says in an article titled “Morocco Becomes an African Football Giant.”

With this, the Moroccan team confirms that it is “going through a great moment, thanks to a very solid project that yielded good results,” the same source adds.

Recalling the remarkable feat of the Atlas Lions at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they ranked fourth, AS notes that two years later, Morocco has won the bronze medal after an impressive tournament where they demonstrated their potential from the very start by defeating Argentina.

“In the bronze medal match on Thursday, the Moroccan team dominated Egypt, confirming that Moroccan football is experiencing its historic moment,” the article highlights.

Morocco’s football team won the bronze medal in the men’s football tournament of the Paris-Olympics 2024 on Thursday 08 August, thrashing Egypt 6-0 in placement match in Nantes.

Moroccan goals were scored by Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (23′), Soufiane Rahimi, who scored twice (26′, 64′), Bilal El Khannouss (51′), Akram Nakach (73′) and Achraf Hakimi (87′).

Owing to this victory, Morocco has secured two medals at the Paris Olympics, following Soufiane El Bakkali’s gold in the 3,000 steeplechase on Wednesday.

This is Morocco’s first Olympic medal in football, joining athletics and boxing as sports having secured Olympic medals for the Kingdom.

MAP: 08 August 2024

Morocco was eliminated in the semi-final of the men’s football tournament at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games by Spain (1-2), Monday 05 August at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.

Soufiane Rahimi converted a penalty to give the Atlas Lions the lead in the 36th minute. Fermin Lopez scored the equalizer in the 66th minute, before Juanlu Sanchez scored the second goal in the 85th minute.

Morocco will play for Bronze, Thursday, against France or Egypt.

MAP: 05 August 2024

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Soufiane Rahimi scored for the Atlas Cubs in the 28th minute, converting a penalty he had won himself. Ilias Akhomach doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, before Achraf Hakimi scored the third seven minutes later.

El Mehdi Maouhoub (90th+1st) quadrupled the score with a penalty awarded by the match referee after consulting VAR.

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MAP: 02 August 2024

The Moroccan U23 football team qualified for the quarter-finals of the men’s tournament at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, following a convincing 3-0 victory over Iraq, on Tuesday 30 July at the Nice Stadium, on the third and final day of Group B.

The Atlas Cubs’ goals were scored by Amir Richardson (19’), Sofiane Rahimi (28’) and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (36’).

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MAP: 30 July 2024