Hakim Ziyech, Morocco-2025, Lions of the Atlas… Mohamed Timoumi says it all

In this exclusive interview granted to the African media Foot Africa, the former legend of AS FAR and the Atlas Lions spoke, the day after the victory against Gabon (5-1), the current level of the Moroccan selection under the Walid Regragui era, the bad luck of Morocco in the African Cup of Nations, the work of the FRMF, the presence of Hakim Ziyech and several other points.

Timoumi first highlighted the progress of Moroccan football thanks to investments in training and the opening of numerous academies: “It is clear that Moroccan football has progressed spectacularly on all levels in recent years… Above all, It must be recognized that the FRMF has invested in training, taking advantage of the political will to promote and develop the king of sport.

Before adding: “A great infrastructure has been put in place, which has made it possible to launch several academies, notably that of King Mohammed VI, which has contributed to the emergence of many stars of the current national team, like Youssef En-Nesyri, Azzedine Ounahi, or even Nayef Aguerd. This golden generation has been reinforced by several binational gems, who stand out for their dedication and their high technical level.

Looking back on his experience, one of the main architects of the epic of the Atlas Lions during the 1986 World Cup explained that “playing in an African Cup of Nations is not an easy task. It takes a mind of steel to win it. Indeed, several external factors can disrupt the concentration of players, such as humidity, heat, the condition of the pitches, refereeing or even accommodation conditions.

Timoumi also compared Morocco’s performances in the World Cup and CAN: “Our national team has often shone during its participation in the World Cup. On the other hand, we missed our objectives on numerous occasions in CAN.

Referring to the wealth of the current squad, the former AS FAR player stressed that “the Moroccan selection can count on 30 to 40 players of an almost equivalent level. One of the major assets of the current team is this inexhaustible pool of talent, whether in Morocco or in Europe. The presence of Hakim Ziyech is a plus but his absence will not create technical and tactical problems.

Addressing Morocco’s bad luck in African competitions, Mohamed Timoumi declared that “since our coronation in 1976, we have not managed to win the CAN for various reasons. Sometimes it was bad luck, other times it was individual errors, especially from our goalkeepers.

Despite this, the former Atlas Lion was optimistic: “Today, I think that the national team is well equipped to win the title during the next CAN, which will take place in Morocco, ‘as much as she will benefit from the support of the 12th man’.

Finally, regarding Achraf Hakimi’s chances of winning the African Ballon d’Or, Timoumi remains optimistic: “Why not? He has been consistent throughout the year, delivering breathtaking performances, whether with the national team or with Paris Saint-Germain.