Ishe kept her parka bearing the image of SU Agen. It can be useful in these times. But when he takes it off, Clément Bougier now proudly wears the red sweatshirt of the Morocco selection. The superintendent of the SUA for almost seven years (December 2017-February 2024) has been serving the Atlas Lions since last September. A national team which is coming back to life after four and a half years of suspension from all official competitions following serious governance problems. It began its reconstruction in Agen last June during a four-day training course which brought together 66 players. A new beginning also for Clément Bougier.
It is the story of a combination of circumstances. Without the intervention of the child of Oujda Abdelatif Benazzi and the SUA educator Driss Zine, this selection would never have set foot on the annexed grounds of Armandie. And without the help of former Agen manager Bernard Goutta, who intervened with the Atlas Lions to provide a working framework, Clément Bougier would never have joined the adventure. “They contacted me because Bernard said only good things about me. After a few discussions, the feeling passed very quickly with the president of the Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation (FRMR) Hicham Oubajja and the coach Kouider Gasmi. »
In Casablanca with family
The “Candle” therefore did not hesitate long before rekindling the flame which had flickered with his departure from SU Agen. “I stopped because I no longer had a life between the schedule which could change at any time, the long night trips on the road, the Sunday training sessions, or even readjusting to a new manager every year… It had become too complicated and I wanted to be alongside my partner and my two children [NDLR : un garçon de 3 ans et une fille née en juillet dernier]. » Clément Bougier thus returned at the age of 33 to his position as a municipal employee very close to the family home, at the town hall of Temple-sur-Lot.
“It’s a great challenge. I continue my passion, I have a project where I can create everything and leave my mark”
“A lot of clubs have called me to be their steward,” he assures. But I really wanted to prioritize my family life. And there, fate wanted the Moroccan selection to train in Agen. I agreed to help them because they are freelance for only one week to ten days, so we can organize ourselves. » Like last November when he accompanied the team to Casablanca for two Group B Africa matches. “Families were invited to this gathering, I was able to bring my wife! There must be a little star above us, we love this country. We’ve been going on vacation to Marrakech twice a year for a long time…”
Bernard Goutta, the former manager of SU Agen now in Carcassonne, has been working with the Moroccan national team since last summer.
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“There is everything to do”
On February 2, when he returns to Casablanca for a decisive match on the road to the 2027 World Cup (read elsewhere), Clément Bougier will not be sightseeing. “The cool thing is that there is everything to do. Even if there is a large staff, everyone is attentive and adorable, everything is new for them. They lacked a framework, an organization. They were waiting for me to bring a professional side to them in terms of stewardship. They weren’t used to that. And I find what I liked at the SUA like preparing the locker rooms, being in contact with the sporting environment, but without the inconvenience of riding at night every two weeks! »
After doing freelance work alongside Sébastien Calvet in the French U20 team, Clément Bougier thought he could join the U18s. He does not regret having seized the opportunity offered by the selection of Morocco which now has its habits in Agen where it sleeps at Enap. “I wanted to leave with a national team. After knowing the Barbarians, it’s a great challenge. I continue my passion, I have a project where I can create everything and leave my mark. » With also sporting perspectives which make the eyes of the child from Aiguillon shine: “For the moment, we do not have unlimited resources. But if we reach Pool A, things can go very quickly there. »
-“For the moment, we do not have unlimited resources. But if we get to Pool A, things can go very quickly there”
The rise in power of footballers, semi-finalists of the last World Cup and who will host matches of the 2030 World Cup, is proof of this. “As the king of Morocco is very into sport, rugby is trying to follow the wave after signing an agreement with the FFR. » Something to dream big for Clément Bougier: “Already, moving up to Group A to compete in the African Cup is great. So far it’s been nothing but happiness. Plus, I travel, it’s so good, I’m having a blast. But obviously I hope to do the 2027 World Cup in Australia, that would be huge! »
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Reda Benazzi, the younger brother of the SUA legend, is one of the executives of the Morocco selection, even if he now plays in Regional 1 at CRC XV.
On the road to the 2027 World Cup
Decisive barrage against Tunisia. Relaunched last July, the Moroccan national team played two matches in Group B of the Africa Cup in November. On the pitch at the Mohamed Benjelloun complex in Casablanca, the Atlas Lions dominated their counterparts from Madagascar (53-37) and Botswana (64-0). In this selection, “at national level” – according to Clément Bougier – in which the majority of players play in Europe, we recognize names like the “brother of” Reda Benazzi (Confluent Rugby Club XV, Regional 1), the former fly-half Agenais and Marmandais Fouad Boulaghrifa (Nantua, Fédérale 1), the winger who passed through the Top 14 Valentin Tireford (Graulhet, Nationale 2), or even the experienced second row Yassine Maamry (Valence-Romans, Pro D2) and pillar Zakaria El Fakir (Biarritz, Pro D2).
Clément Bougier will join the Atlas Lions on Sunday February 2, accompanied by two kingpins of the SUA association: Crabos physio Imad Azarkan and educator Driss Zini in charge of sponsorship for the selection. Morocco (40e world) will then host Tunisia (46e world) for a decisive play-off match, on February 9 in Casablanca, in order to designate the last participant in the final phase of the 2025 African Cup, which will be held in Kampala in Uganda (July 10-21), itself qualifier for the 2027 World Cup (1is October-November 13) in Australia. The number of teams increasing from 20 to 24 for this 11e edition, Morocco can believe in its chances of being part of the party. To do this, he will need to win the 2025 African Cup or at least be a finalist and then beat the Asian vice-champion.
