Arab Union for Sports Culture Awards 2024 Honorary Prize to Fouzi Lekjaa

The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, was elected by a landslide (49 votes out of 52) as the top representative of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the FIFA Council. 

The election took place on Wednesday in Cairo during the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the continental football governing body.  

Lekjaa secured a wide margin over Egyptian candidate Hani Abou Rida, Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi.  

Comorian candidate Kanizat Ibrahim secured the seat designated for female representatives.  

CAF representatives on the FIFA Council are elected for a term that runs until 2029.  

This extraordinary general assembly was also marked by the re-election of Patrice Motsepe as CAF president.

Morocco and Spain signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on judicial cooperation in the lead-up to the 2030 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday in Madrid. The agreement was signed by Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi and his Spanish counterpart, Félix Bolaños.

Signed on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, this Joint Declaration of Intent is part of the strengthening of the historic bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of Spain.

The declaration focuses on strengthening judicial cooperation to tackle organized crime challenges, through increased dialogue and enhanced existing cooperation.

It also covers modernizing the judicial system, digitizing justice, improving access, promoting alternative dispute resolution, and managing cross-border cases.

Given the importance of effective judicial collaboration in supporting the joint organization of the 2030 World Cup, this declaration also seeks to reinforce joint commissions by regularly convening those established under civil and criminal mutual legal assistance agreements, in line with the discussions initiated during the April 2024 meetings in Madrid.

In this regard, and considering the trilateral nature of this sporting event, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their cooperation through specific agreements, particularly via the Morocco-Spain-Portugal Joint Justice Commission, which will provide a structured working framework until the conclusion of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch chaired a meeting in Rabat on Thursday of the steering committee monitoring stadium projects for the 2025 African Cup (AFCON) of Nations and the 2030 World Cup.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed the progress of work on the nine stadiums that will host the 2025 AFCON finals, in line with the set schedule. The stadiums are due to be completed between March and August 2025, according to a press release from the office of the Head of Government.  

According to the same source, the committee also took note of the progress of construction work on the Hassan II stadium in Benslimane, in accordance with FIFA standards, which will be ready in December 2027 with a view to hosting games at the 2030 World Cup, to be organized jointly by the Kingdom with Spain and Portugal. 

On this occasion, Akhannouch affirmed that the government, in line with the High Royal Guidelines, “is mobilized to pursue various sports infrastructure projects and to provide all conditions necessary to guarantee the success of our country’s hosting of the 2025 AFCON and 2030 World Cup”, the press release adds. 

The meeting was attended by Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports Mohamed Saad Berrada and Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa.

The Economic and Social Council of the Arab League on Wednesday congratulated Morocco on its official selection as a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

In a resolution adopted at its 115th session, the council urged Arab League member states to support Morocco in ensuring the tournament’s success and to rally behind Arab teams competing in the event.

The Moroccan delegation at the session was led by Mohamed Ait Ouali, Morocco’s ambassador to Cairo and its permanent representative to the Arab League, alongside officials from the Ministries of Economy, Finance, Industry, and Trade.

Discussions at the meeting covered the implementation of resolutions from the council’s previous session, as well as economic and social issues set to be addressed at the Arab League’s 34th summit in Baghdad.

Other agenda items included infrastructure and development plans for Yemen, progress on the Arab customs union, and investment initiatives across the region.

Morocco is ramping up preparations to ensure a world-class 2030 FIFA World Cup, driven by the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Spanish daily La Razon reported on Thursday.

“The historic feat of the Atlas Lions at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has reignited hope and strengthened national pride, both on the pitch and in a country deeply passionate about football,” the newspaper wrote, emphasizing Morocco’s commitment to delivering a successful tournament while bolstering its global standing.

As part of its preparations, Morocco is modernizing sports infrastructure, upgrading transportation, and investing in skills training, La Razon noted.

The country is constructing the Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, which will be the largest venue of the 2030 World Cup with a capacity of 115,000 seats. Existing stadiums in Rabat, Tangier, Fez, Agadir, and Marrakech are also undergoing renovations to meet international standards.

The report highlighted Morocco’s push to enhance its transport network, including extending the high-speed rail line to Marrakech and upgrading road infrastructure in Casablanca, the country’s economic hub.

In the healthcare sector, La Razon cited the construction of Africa’s largest hospital in Rabat and the expansion of Morocco’s major airports to boost their capacity ahead of the tournament.

The newspaper also noted that Morocco welcomed a record 17.4 million visitors in 2024, reinforcing its position as a leading tourist destination with ambitions to become Africa’s top travel hotspot by 2030.

Before co-hosting the World Cup with Spain and Portugal, Morocco will organize the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), which La Razon described as “a full-scale test to showcase its capability in hosting major international events.”

Moroccan referees received their “FIFA Refereeing” badges on Wednesday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora. 

During the ceremony, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president Fouzi Lekjaa stated that the growth of Moroccan football hinges on improving refereeing, a significant element of the national football system.

“We want our refereeing to be a key driver in the ongoing development of Moroccan football,” Lekjaa emphasized.

The FRMF president emphasized that the role of a referee is “delicate,” demanding firm and decisive judgment, while underscoring the crucial importance of ethics, values, the law, and technology in their performance. 

Thee event also honored retired referees for their long years of service in both national and international football.