Death of Abdelkader Lecheheb, former Atlas Lion and Moroccan diplomat

Abdelkader Lecheheb, emblematic figure of Moroccan Football and renowned diplomat, died at the age of 70, after courageously battling a long illness.

Former Wydad player in Casablanca and Moroccan ambassador to Canada, Japan and Russia, Lecheheb leaves behind an exceptional legacy, both in the world of sport and that of diplomacy.

Born in Oujda on July 13, 1954, Abdelkader Lecheheb distinguished himself on the football fields in the 1970s. After starting with local teams USM Oujda and MC Oujda, he joined Casablanca and the prestigious Wydad, where he scored 23 goals and helped win Botola the league title in the 1975-76 season.

His passion for football and his talent led him to the Moroccan national team, with which he made 15 caps.

After his football career, Lecheheb devoted himself to diplomacy. A law graduate and holder of a doctorate in international relations obtained in Geneva, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held several senior positions. He was notably Morocco’s ambassador to Canada, Japan, and Russia, where he presented his credentials in 2009.

His loved ones and colleagues remember him as a committed, passionate and deeply devoted man to his country.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) extends, on behalf of its President Fouzi Lekjaa and on behalf of the members of its Steering Committee, its sincere condolences to the members of his family as well as his loved ones and the entire national football family. to this disappearance.