[Portrait] Fouzi Lekjaâ ticks all the boxes!

Indeed, the official designation of Morocco, Portugal and Spain as host countries of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, by the Congress of the International Federation of Football Association last week, is a consecration of the long-term work carried out and a reward for the ambition nourished by the Kingdom for 30 years, since 1994 more precisely and after 5 previous applications (1994-1998-2006-2010-2026). Finally !

This means that it is an obstacle course carried out from one thing to another to achieve this result. Indeed, Fouzi Lekjaâ was the conductor of carrying out this royal vision of hosting a global sporting event. Moreover, in October 2023, HM the King appointed him president of the 2030 World Cup Committee.

Obviously, some would say that it was an easy task since in 2023, the FIFA Council unanimously voted for the Morocco-Spain-Portugal file as the sole candidacy.

Except that we have to be realistic, the Fifa committee did not vote for our beautiful eyes but, by FIFA’s own admission, for a solid file. Indeed, this vote comes one year and 7 months after HM the King announced Morocco’s decision to present with Spain and Portugal, a joint candidacy (March 2023) and four months after Fouzi Lekjaâ, was appointed by the king president of the Moroccan Bid Committee (October 2023). Hard work for a tripartite application submitted to FIFA on July 29, 2024. A project closely followed by the Sovereign who, on December 4, 2024, chaired a council of ministers devoted to the state of progress.

These few months have been decisive and hellish for Fouzi Lekjaâ, the object sometimes of adoration, sometimes of total contempt, of a campaign of defamation and denigration and sometimes even of personal attack on social networks.

But that is not knowing the man. Indeed, few know that as a student at IAV, Fouzi Lekjaâ was a mobilized and very active activist on campus, thus forging a strong personality. Some of his companions describe both a tough but also empathetic person.

Thus, he showed virulence to defend his ideas and the cause of the students. But this same vehemence goes to the second level when it comes to trying to extract someone from the students of 1^e year of the famous hazing. Some rookies are grateful to him to this day.

Nevertheless, on a personal level Fouzi Lekjaâ remains an enigma although close people and faithful companions describe a person who is the polar opposite of what is written about him.

The journalists also know the character well, he is friendly but that doesn’t mean you can extract information from him. It’s a grave!

Fouzi Lekjaâ is also a very ambitious person, an essential quality when it comes to having to carry out colossal projects such as ensuring the best preparation of the country to host the CDM 2030. And tough in absorbing low blows without distracting himself from its objective.

Moreover, the professional career of the president of the FRMF is impressive both nationally and internationally, particularly within the CAF and FIFA bodies. You don’t break through without having skills and a strong character trait. Fouzi Lekjaâ is one of the examples of meritocracy in our country and his curriculum and experience attest to this. He could only count on himself to succeed.

Moreover, even these detractors on other projects such as tax and compensation reform, concede to him for remarkable and serious work, recognizing him as a major adversary who commands respect. “He has a good spirit even in adversity,” we admit.

Moreover, even if on our columns we have not always been kind to Fouzi Lekjaâ, he does not hold a grudge, aware that the responsibilities he assumes put him in the spotlight and criticism.

Another quality and not the least, and although he was the leader in implementing the royal vision, he never took all the credit.

And no less than at the beginning of December, he stressed that this candidacy is the result of a strong and unprecedented mobilization on the part of the working groups created for this purpose, in particular at the level of ministerial departments, public establishments and companies as well as as the local authorities and local authorities concerned.

This shows the spirit that governs his work on an issue which concerns all Moroccans, even the least keen on football who discovered a real passion after the prowess of the national eleven in Qatar.

But beyond the discipline itself, this organization of the CDM 2030 is an economic and soft power lever for a Morocco which continues to shine on the international scene. No one can deny the role played by Lekjaâ in strengthening the reputation of the Kingdom both politically and economically. A real lever of soft power.

Whether we like it or not, we must recognize that Fouzi Lekjaâ did a very good job.