Saturday 27 July 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’s national football team ranked 14th in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday 18 July.
The Atlas Lions, who lost two spots, remain the best squad in Africa with 1669.44 points, ahead of Senegal, which ranks 19th (1623.34 points).

Morocco is also the best Arab squad, ahead of Qatar that ranks 34th (1504.06 points).

Globally, Argentina tops the FIFA ranking, followed by France and Spain.

FIFA Top10:

  1. Argentina
  2. France
  3. Spain
  4. England
  5. Brazil
  6. Belgium
  7. Netherlands
  8. Portugal
  9. Colombia
  10. Italy

MAP: 18 July 2024

In the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, Morocco has ascended to the 12th position globally. With a tally of 1669.44 points, the Atlas Lions maintain their leading position in Africa, surpassing Senegal, which now holds the 18th rank with 1623.34 points.

At the regional level, Morocco continues to dominate, holding the top spot among Arab nations, with Qatar trailing behind at 35th place with 1504.06 points.

On the global stage, Argentina remains firmly at the summit of the FIFA rankings, followed closely by France and Belgium in second and third place, respectively.

The current FIFA Top 10 standings as of June 20, 2024, are as follows:

1. Argentina

2. France

3. Belgium

4. Brazil

5. England

6. Portugal

7. Netherlands

8. Spain

9. Croatia

10. Italy

he Moroccan National Football Team secured a large victory against Congo Brazzaville 6-0 on Tuesday at the Agadir Grand Stadium in the 4th round of Group E (African zone) qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The Atlas Lions’ goals were scored by Azzeddine Ounahi (8’), Chadi Riad (16’), Ayoub El Kaabi (20’, 39’, 53’) and Soufiane Rahimi (62’).

Morocco beat Zambia 2-1 on Friday at Agadir’s Adrar Stadium in the 3rd Day of Group E (African zone) qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The Atlas Lions won thanks to goals from Hakim Ziyech (6th) and Eliesse Ben Seghir (67th). Edouard Chilufya (80th) scored for Zambia.

With this victory, Morocco consolidate their position at the top of Group E with six points from two matches.

The game against Congo Brazzaville, part of matchday 4, will be held on June 11 at Agadir’s Adrar Stadium (8pm), instead of the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Moroccan national football team will play Congo Brazzaville, on June 11 at the Grand Stadium of Agadir, for the 4th day of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced.

FRMF had received a letter from FIFA informing it that the Congo Brazzaville-Morocco match will be held at the Grand Stadium of Agadir on June 11 (8 p.m.) instead of the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, FRMF pointed out in a press release.

Atlas Lions will play Zambia tonight in Agadir for the 3rd round of these qualifiers.

Morocco tops Group E with 3 points, following their away victory against Tanzania (0-2) on November 21. Zambia, Niger and Tanzania, who have each played two matches, also have 3 points. 

Head coach of the Moroccan national team Walid Regragui said, on Thursday in Agadir, that the Atlas Lions’ objective is to win their match against Zambia and stay top of Group E of the African qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“We will do what is necessary to get the three victory points to stay ahead in our group,” he told a pre-match press conference before the Morocco-Zambia game, scheduled for Friday at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir for Matchday 3 (Group E).

“Zambia are a team we know well, having played them at the last Africa Cup of Nations, but Friday’s match will be held in front of our own fans and will certainly be different from AFCON,” he said.

In this regard, he noted that the Moroccan national team “can do better than their recent performances. In the last two games, we scored a goal (against Angola in a friendly), but the important thing is to have chances which we need to convert”, he added, noting that “it’s not a question of attacking play, because the national team creates a lot of chances, but we’re still lacking in goal-scoring efficiency”.

“We have talented players. But working at club level is different from working for the national team. With the succession of matches, I think the players will be more at ease and therefore more effective,” he said.

“Playing at home means we have to win, but the important thing is to qualify for the World Cup,” stressed Regragui, explaining that “qualification is a marathon with several matches, and we’re well prepared for this marathon. Our ambition is to give Morocco a third consecutive appearance at the World Cup”.

For his part, Zambia coach Avram Grant noted that his team would be facing a Moroccan side packed with stars who play in the world’s top leagues, with the ambition of winning the game, adding that Friday’s encounter would be different from that of the last AFCON.

Morocco lead Group E with 3 points, after their away win over Tanzania (0-2) on November 21. Zambia, Niger and Tanzania, who played two matches, also have 3 points.