With globalization, migrations and the sustained development of social networks, virtual borders no longer exist; they have been replaced by transnational identity withdrawals. Moroccans are no longer all mono-nationals, nor limited by the borders of the kingdom. We find them everywhere, with their traditions, their attachment to the country and their solidarity around what defines them from now on: a faith, a flag and institutions. They were previously also defined by belonging to a geographical space, this is no longer the case.
Football, the social and sporting activity par excellence, has not escaped the movement. All of the country’s coaches, since the mid-90s, have drawn on the diaspora to compose their formations. Before this date, clubs like AS FAR, Wydad, Raja, MAS or KAC were the main suppliers of the national team.
This is no longer the case today: most of the players in the Atlas Lions backbone come from European training centers and the Mohammed VI Football Academy, and not from clubs. With a few exceptions, the most notable of which is Nayef Aguerd of the FUS, none of the holders of the epic World Cup in Qatar passed through the senior category of the Botola Pro. Ounahi, Bounou and En-Nesyri played exclusively in the youth categories before their transition to European professionalism.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is aware of the situation and wishes to strengthen the national clubs. To this end, it signed an agreement with the OCP Foundation to promote, professionalize and structure the training of young people destined to shine later in their respective clubs. The amounts allocated are significant and their destination is perfectly controlled. There is no question, in this project, of diverting training budgets in favor of the first team. The beginnings of the program are difficult and the obstacles are difficult to break, especially since most clubs are suffering in terms of results, continuity and stability, with worrying indicators.
The performances of AS FAR and Raja in the group stage of the African Champions League this weekend left something to be desired. Certainly, nothing is lost for both clubs. After two days, AS FAR leads the group with 4 points and Raja is only one point behind second place; There are four days left before qualification for the quarter-finals.
It is at the level of content that the situation is bleak. The two clubs, authors of a record run the previous season, are far from satisfying their supporters. Everything is missing: efficiency, domination in the game and technical quality. This is worrying for the rest of the campaign and it is a stain if we refer to the fantastic results of our national teams. Our clubs undoubtedly owe us a revenge.
Only the Renaissance Sportive de Berkane holds its place in the CAF Cup. They beat the South African team from Stellenbosch in Durban, with a clear score of 3 goals to 1. A little revenge, considering our recent results in the selection against South Africa.
As for Wydad, in crisis for two years, the wait is even greater. They represent the African continent in the first edition of the brand new Club World Cup. The format of the tournament was copied from that of the World Cup of selections, with 32 participants, divided into eight groups of four, the first two of which will qualify for the round of 16. In the procedure before the draw, Wydad, along with Al Ahly of Egypt, were placed in pot 3; it is the result of the club’s excellent run before its fall. The two other African clubs, Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns, were placed in pot 4.
This did not prevent Wydad from being part of the group of death along with Manchester City, Juventus and Al Ain FC. The WAC faces a challenge, that of emerging with honors. A qualification in eighth is not impossible and the appointment is made for a first historic feat, against Man City on June 18 in Philadelphia. Aiming for the moon should not scare the club representing a country, which came out first in its group at the World Cup twice: in 1986 in a group made up of Poland (bronze medalist in 1982, they beat France of Platini in a classification match); from England (quarter-finalist), and finally, from Portugal, including 7 players from FC Porto, would be crowned European champions the following year.
In 2022, Morocco once again finished first in a tough group. It was made up of Croatia (finalist of the 2018 edition), Belgium (3rd in Russia) and Canada (whose brilliant Alphonso Davies from Bayern was a danger in his own right). The rest, we all know it.
It is with these results in the rearview mirror that Wydad must prepare and approach its flagship competition of the year. It is a challenge that will have to be taken up to consolidate the position and leadership of Moroccan football.
