RABAT (Morocco) – After wearing the Moroccan jersey for 19 years, the time has come for Abdelhakim Zouita to bid farewell to the national team. He made the announcement via an Instagram post.
Looking back on the last two decades, he first thinks of his four participations in FIBA AfroBasket under the Moroccan banner.
After missing the last two editions of FIBA Africa’s flagship event, one of which due to injury, he was hoping to see Morocco participate in the next one.
But Libya went through this, which will remain a regret for Zouita: “It’s a disappointment, especially for me.”
He remembers the Moroccan fans and their unwavering support over the past few years. “It is only in four years that we can hope to go to AfroBasket again. Morocco and its public do not deserve to miss such an event. Basketball is the number 2 sport in our country,” recalls the 2.01m (6ft 7in) winger.
Was his unavailability during the AfroBasket 2025 pre-qualifications a month ago the catalyst for his decision? “No, I made my decision before last year’s AfroCan,” he replies.
It was therefore the competition in Angola which crowned him at the continental level. “As a player, the most important thing for me is to win titles. I did it at club level. I also wanted to do it for the national team. I am proud to have achieved this by being captain of the Moroccan team.
This final victory over Ivory Coast will remain engraved in his memory, especially since he contributed to the Moroccan cause with 11 points. “It was Morocco’s first title since our last victory at AfroBasket in 1965. We have had so many failures before.”
During these two decades, he saw Tunisia progress, which motivated him. “Seeing them participate in the FIBA World Cup and the Olympic Games, I wondered why Morocco couldn’t do it. We have the talent to achieve these goals,” he notes.
Unfortunately, Zouita was never able to express himself at the highest level. “The opponents are very strong. There are national teams with NBA players. We experienced a lot of failures, but we learned from them. This resulted in our victory at AfroCan,” adds- he.
From his first steps under the national colors, Zouita remembers the call-ups and the feeling of pride he felt. “Every call and every competition was different. At first you try to show that you are part of an elite group, but as the years go by you realize that you are indeed part of it. You then understand that this What matters is the group.”
The life of a top athlete is full of ups and downs, especially when injuries occur.
Zouita has had some, some of which kept him away from the national team during his career.
“These are not bad memories strictly speaking. They are moments that must be forgotten. These injuries take you away from the field, but the effort you have to make to get back to your best level is worth it,” notes the player.
Abdelhakim Zouita, who currently plays for FUS Rabat, led AS Salé to the title in the 2017 FIBA African Champions Cup. In the process, Zouita won the tournament MVP title
He leaves with the feeling of duty accomplished and the certainty that Moroccan basketball is in good hands, with the rise of young players. “I am convinced that we have talent. We have a generation that can go for titles. We can even qualify for the World Cup and the Olympic Games. The potential is there,” he insists.
FIBA
