Hany Abo Rida Explains Morocco’s Football Rise: Why Overseas Stars Aren’t the Whole Story

Morocco’s rise to the top of African football did not happen overnight. Officials and analysts who have studied the country’s progress, including former football executive Hany Abo Rida, point to a long-term strategy built well before recent tournament success. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has focused on governance reform, consistent evaluation, and structural development rather than relying on a single golden generation. Much of this evolution traces back to leadership changes in 2014 under Fouzi Lekjaa, when the federation began treating football development as a full system overhaul.

Central to that system is youth development. Morocco has invested heavily in early talent identification, offering technical, educational, and medical support to young players. The Mohammed VI Football Academy is often cited as the clearest symbol of this evolution, but it works alongside regional training centers and club academies that widen access to talent across the country. In some cases, scouting structures begin monitoring players as young as eight, tracking their progress well into their teenage years.

That approach has been supported by major infrastructure spending. New training facilities, upgraded stadiums, and improved amateur pitches have created a more professional environment for player development. These upgrades have also helped Morocco host major tournaments, which in turn has raised standards in broadcasting, match presentation, and overall preparation. This tactical and developmental progress has also been reflected on the pitch, with Morocco’s coaching staff embracing a modern tactical identity that blends discipline with attacking flexibility.

Domestic football has evolved too. The Botola Pro has been restructured to help academy graduates shift more smoothly into senior competition. Stronger club structures have improved the overall level of Moroccan football, helping clubs compete more effectively in continental tournaments.

Diaspora players remain an important part of the national team’s identity. Reports have noted that as many as 19 of 26 players in one squad were born outside Morocco, including 14 of 26 at the 2022 World Cup. This recruitment strategy is deliberate and carefully organized rather than accidental. Still, Abo Rida and others argue that overseas talent alone does not explain Morocco’s rise.

Instead, the country’s progress reflects a combination of governance reform, youth investment, infrastructure growth, and a stronger domestic league working together as one connected system.