This is perhaps the generation that will offer Morocco the second CAN in its history. This Sunday, the Atlas Lions, led by Walid Regragui, are playing against Senegal in the final of the competition they are hosting, with the hope of adding to their record a line behind the glorious epic of 1976.
A team led in particular by the top scorer in the competition, Brahim Diaz (5 goals in 6 matches). Born in Malaga (Spain), he did part of his training there, before leaving at the age of 14 for Manchester City (England).
It is not the only one: like other African teams, half of the Moroccan players were not born in the country (14 out of 28) and a majority of them were not trained there (16 out of 28 players whose last club before the transition to professional status was not in Morocco).
A major investment in training since 2008
“Since 2008, the Moroccan Football Federation has focused on training in the country,” explains Saïd El Abadi, journalist and author of The history of African football (Hidden Faces, 2025). There is a real investment on the part of government authorities under the leadership and vision of King Mohammed VI. »
“Detections are in place and the creation of training centers, in particular the Mohammed VI Academy (Editor’s note: from which four players of the current team come: Aguerd, Aït Boudlal, Boudaoui and En-Nesyri), allow the country to succeed in its training. Result: in Africa, while for years Senegal and Egypt were ahead, Morocco is catching up. »
With a stated objective, and almost achieved: “to achieve a balance of 50% players trained domestically, 50% players from diasporas within the A team”.
On the diaspora side, three countries stand out for their influence on the national selection, each with 4 players who were trained there: Spain (from which we exclude Brahim Diaz, considered to be trained in England), native land of Achraf Hakimi, the Netherlands of Noussair Mazraoui and, of course, France.
On the French side, Romain Saïss, Neil El Aynaoui and Eliesse Ben Seghir were all born there, while Oussama Targhalline, born in Casablanca, trained at Olympique de Marseille.
“Great pride in being able to count on the diasporas”
“Historically, France had the lead in terms of influence on the Moroccan selection, continues Saïd El Abadi. But in recent years, we have realized that several dual nationals in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands are selected… quite simply because the Moroccan diasporas are very numerous and established there. »
Unlike France where dual nationality can cause debate, especially among a certain political fringe, “in Morocco, it is a great pride to be able to count on the diasporas,” continues the journalist. “Especially since the players now choose the Moroccan selection very early and come to play there among the young people. This point is very important and shows the country that they are not coming mercenary exactly. So there isn’t really a subject. »
“The only subject, if we can say so, is that now everyone expects them to win the CAN,” concludes El Abadi. To crown a cycle marked by a World Cup semi-final in 2022, but also a coronation at CHAN (the African Nations Championship, in August 2025) and at the Arab Cup (in December 2025). For that, wherever they come from, the Moroccan players will have to sublimate themselves this Sunday.
