After the men’s team in the semi-finals of the Men’s World Cup in Qatar, it’s the women’s turn to shine.
Souad Soulimani has been a member of the Sport Business Observatory since 2016. Founder of MediaSpoliS specializing in media education and the production of content dedicated to women’s leadership, she is also president of Radio Declic which gives the floor to the inhabitants of working-class neighborhoods on major societal issues.
We all still have in mind the fervor aroused by the Moroccan men’s football team during the last World Cup in Qatar which saw the Atlas Lions climb to the semi-finals before be eliminated by the unfortunate but valiant Blues finalists. Bis repeated for the surprise created and so much the better with the women who write history in turn after a victory this Thursday, August 3 against Colombia. From these exploits, is built a heritage dedicated to a youth and a people celebrating and in search of new challenges.
Displaying and claiming sport as an actor and spearhead of a Kingdom which proves that tradition, modernity and diversity are more feminine than ever is the leitmotif of a Morocco which believes in sport as a unifier and emancipator and which bets more than ever on its promotion to address a dreamy and ambitious youth. In the first place to young girls looking for role models ready to fully express themselves and exist in the Morocco of tomorrow which reaches out to them today and proudly opens its arms to them.
Sport to build and teach
With the organization of the 2022 women’s CAN which was held from July 2 to 23 and a budget of 2.4 million dollars allocated to the competition against 1 million for the 2018 edition, Morocco displays its ambitions : building and succeeding through sport. In recent years, development plans and access to sport for all have multiplied in the kingdom. The impact will have been carried and fully consecrated by the round ball, a football which brought together an entire people and well beyond the borders since it is the most followed and most practiced sporting discipline in the country. Football to convey values, to change the world’s view of the place of African women with female athletes who take their place as ambassadors and “role models” to build the Morocco and Africa of tomorrow.
The results of Moroccan women at the 2023 World Cup Team Morocco
A successful bet in the country which has seen its players rise in final of the CAN 2022 and great interest with a record attendance for the semi-finals: 45,000 spectators in the stands in Rabat to watch the match of the Atlas Lionesses against the Super Falcons of Nigeria. This international success and this enthusiasm for the round ball was already reflected historically with the men’s team on December 15 by a record audience for TF1 broadcasting the exciting and inspiring clash between two Nations who love each other and two teams who respect each other. with Mbappé and Hakimi as ambassadors of an indestructible friendship for this popular and legendary France Morocco far from diplomatic problems or tensions.
A continent in search of recognition
In total, more than 66% of viewers in France followed the meeting France – Morocco, i.e. more than 20 million according to Médiamétrie data for the Atlas Lions led by Walid Regragui to write one of the most beautiful pages in the history of African sport, making the Moroccan team the flag bearer of a continent in search of recognition and to the conquest of the world. This desire to show the passion for sport, the love of the jersey and that of an entire country has been completely taken up and embodied by the women. Yes, in turn, the Atlas Lionesses roared with one voice to win historically on the occasion of their first participation in the World Cup.
International player Najad Badri as the flag bearer of Team Morocco
This August 3, 2023, Anissa Lahmiri, a native of Ile-de-France from Saint-Cloud, offers her first international goal and allows the Moroccan selection to qualify for the round of 16 of the World Cup, following Germany’s draw against France. South Korea. Emotion on the field and behind the screens. They did. So few believed in it but so many now believe in it. And if the next match, France – Morocco on Tuesday August 8 changed the course of history a little more? What if, through the power of sport, the message was once again sent faster, higher and stronger? That of a sport that listens to its players and their specificities. Of a sport that federates and invites female leadership and of a Moroccan football proud to display a female team supported by an entire people?
Yes, the fervor is not yet the same. Neither does popularity. But the talent and the authenticity are there. The rage to win and that of showing to the eyes of the world how much we are aware of the expectations of the country and of a youth that follows, supports and admires sportswomen.
Writing history, Morocco and Africa at the heart
Under the impetus of coach Reynald Pedros (51 years old, 25 selections), former French international and former coach of OL Women, the beautiful story continues even if against the blue, he knows, the lionesses do not leave favorites. “We have just achieved a feat over three games, now it’s knockout matches, everything is possible. It will be a very difficult match but we will do everything to qualify.” The tone is set and the mission clear: don’t give up, play without complex and assert yourself. Participate to win.
Expected feats which, each time they occur, echo this desire to create enthusiasm and the legacy that goes with it. In this same spirit of building and building a Morocco at the service of a young actor in the country, on April 6, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mr. Mohammed Mehdi Bensaidand representatives of 6 UN agencies including UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR and UN Women, signed in Rabat the fourth joint annual work plan on youth with the implementation of a new generation of youth centres.
Signature of the 4th work plan dedicated to youth by Moroccan Minister Mohammed Bensaïd Dima Maghreb, Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication
Today, the population of 15-29 year olds in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region represents more than 100 million inhabitants, or about a third of the total population. In Morocco the 15-24 year olds are nearly 6 million. This youth is both an opportunity and a huge challenge. That of action mixed with innovation to clearly gain in attractiveness and productivity. The youth, like its champions, does not want to wait any longer, it is ready to take matters into its own hands and to contribute actively to the economic and social life of the country.
While Moroccan society is undergoing profound change, the time has come to display shared ambitions and, through sport, to make them a reality. Sport, an industry that weighs more than 2.5% of GDP in Morocco as recalled on the occasion of the Africa Sports Expo during which the Moroccan Federation of Sports Professionals presented the first edition of its study on the sports industry in the Kingdom, its weight and its development potential.
This same event saw a strong symbol confirmed: the sponsorship and promotion of the world boxing champion Khadija El Mardi, mother of three children, who participates in deconstructing stereotypes and carrying a powerful societal message at a time when the participation of Moroccan women in international competitions remains low despite the promotion of sports practice by national institutions. This guideline and this choice of kingdom are the continuity of a long path that began in sport.
Remember, in athletics, the first time an African and Arab woman won a gold medal: 1984 with the champion Nawal El Moutawakel who shines in Los Angeles, now a member of the IOC. It is also quite simply the first Olympic gold medal for the kingdom. Forever the first. Forever in history. This path that commands respect and inspires, other women have taken it to shine under the colors of the Moroccan flag like Nezha Bidouane (400m hurdles, bronze medalist at the Sydney Olympics in 2000) or even Hasna Benhassi (silver medalist in the 800 meters at the Athens Olympics in 2004).
World Champion Khadija El Mardi World Boxing Champion Dima Maghreb, Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication
On the football side, we must capitalize on the success and popularity of the men’s team and focus on women’s practice. The Royal Moroccan Federation has also chosen to invest in women’s football to change mentalities. The kingdom has two professional divisions, whose clubs, 42 in total, undertake to form teams under 17 and 15 years old. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) indicates that it covers 70% of the expenses of each club, in particular the salaries of the players.
These are small advances but in the service of a great vision of sport that must be promoted and reinforced as the impact on young girls can be decisive with the gain in confidence, determination and self-affirmation. Today, education and sport are the major challenges of a kingdom that wants to be modern and in full development. Tuesday, August 8, on the Australian lawn of the Hindmarsh stadium, the Atlas lionesses will try to make the green star of the flag and jersey shine a little more to make it rhyme with hope and history.
