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Morocco’s Football Revolution: A Wake-Up Call for Nigeria
At the majestic Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, moments before Morocco’s national team dismantled Niger Republic to become the first African team to pick a World Cup qualifying ticket, a banner stretched proudly across the stands: “This time, the trophy is our dream.”
It wasn’t mere fan bravado or dream. It was a declaration rooted in vision, planning, and national purpose — the same qualities that turned Morocco into the first African and Arab country to reach the World Cup semi-finals at Qatar 2022.
It was a statement of purpose that have made Morocco the most progressive football nation in Africa.
While other nations celebrated qualification or occasional victories, Morocco quietly built an empire. From a visionary royal blueprint in 2008 to the creation of the Mohammed VI Football Academy in 2009 and the world-class Mohammed VI Football Center a decade later, Morocco’s rise has been deliberate, scientific, and inclusive.
For many observers, Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 World Cup was an African triumph. But as subsequent developments have shown, Morocco’s rise was no accident of fate or lucky tournament run.
It was the product of deliberate policy, state investment, and institutional consistency — everything Nigeria once had the potential to build, but never quite did.
From Royal Vision to National Revolution
Morocco’s transformation began not on the pitch, but in the palace. In 2008, King Mohammed VI presented a detailed vision for the country’s sports and youth development. It wasn’t rhetoric; it was a roadmap.
By 2009, the Mohammed VI Football Academy was born — a state-of-the-art institution designed to raise homegrown talent to international standards. Players like Azzedine Ounahi, Nayef Aguerd, and Anas Zniti — stars of the 2022 World Cup — all passed through its corridors.
“The academy embodies the philosophy of professionalism and scientific development,” explained Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and a cabinet minister. “It places the Moroccan player in an environment that matches the best global standards.”
But Morocco’s football revolution didn’t end with players. The system also trained coaches, analysts, referees, and administrators — all nurtured within a unified ecosystem at the Mohammed VI Football Center, opened in 2019. The center stands today as one of the most advanced football facilities in the world.
This institutional backbone has powered Morocco’s domination across Africa: 29 finals reached in recent years, with 25 trophies won across men’s, women’s, and club football.
As Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), puts it on Sky News Arabia’s Counter-Attack Program: “Our success is not by coincidence but the fruit of a strategic vision King Mohammed VI launched in 2008. The national team’s achievements are a continuation of institutional work with clear objectives.”
Beyond the World Cup: Morocco’s Complete Football Ecosystem
The world took notice when Morocco stunned global football by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals at Qatar 2022.
That historic $25 million prize — the highest ever by any African team — was just one of many rewards of Morocco’s long-term investment in football.
But Morocco’s success does not stop at the national team. The country’s domestic clubs are now benefiting massively from FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme (CBP) — a global scheme that compensates clubs whose players participate in the World Cup.
Eighteen African clubs received a total of $4,569,981.49 from the CBP.
Two Moroccan giants — Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca — took the lion’s share, together earning $1,437,244.58, or nearly a third of the entire continent’s total.
Wydad Casablanca alone pocketed $1,405,305, the highest by any African club.
They were followed by Esperance of Tunisia ($525,620), Al Ahly of Egypt ($420,679), Club Africain ($312,087), and Etoile du Sahel ($262,810) — proof of the dominance of North African clubs with structured domestic systems and player development pathways.
The Moroccan league’s inclusion of home-based players in the national setup is now paying off — both in glory and in dollars.
The Nigerian Paradox: Talent Without Structure
Nigeria’s football story, by contrast, remains one of potential without permanence. The country that once inspired Africa’s football dreams now struggles to define its identity. Africa’s most populous nation, has long been a fountain of raw football talent.
From the golden era of the 1990s to the global exploits of players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and now Victor Osimhen, Nigerian footballers have dazzled the world.
Yet, despite its vast human resources, Nigeria remains a sleeping giant of world football — powerful in potential, weak in planning.
The Super Eagles may still qualify for the 2026 World Cup — and likely will — but there will be no financial gain for any Nigerian club from the FIFA Club Benefits Programme. Why?
Because all Super Eagles players are sourced from foreign clubs.
No Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) player is close to the national team radar. This means while nations like Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, and Tunisia continue to earn from their investments in domestic football, Nigerian clubs — once nurseries of raw talent — have been reduced to bystanders in global football’s reward structure.
It is an indictment of a system that glorifies imported talent but neglects homegrown development.
Unlike Morocco, Nigeria lacks a unified development system. The domestic league, once vibrant, now suffers from chronic underfunding, administrative instability, poor infrastructure, and minimal media visibility.
Young talents often leave prematurely, not because they’re ready, but because they must escape stagnation at home.
How Morocco Did It — and What Nigeria Can Learn
Morocco’s success didn’t come overnight. It was engineered through planning, political will, and policy alignment.
In 2008, King Mohammed VI issued a National Sports Vision, calling for the integration of sports into national development.
A year later, the Mohammed VI Football Academy opened its doors, producing stars like Azzedine Ounahi, Nayef Aguerd, and Yassine Bounou — names that dazzled the world at Qatar 2022.
By 2019, Morocco inaugurated the Mohammed VI Football Center, one of the world’s most advanced football facilities — a nerve centre for player training, coaching, analytics, and administration. With many playing fields, the centre is the theatre of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Today, Morocco’s national teams — from the U-17s to the senior level — are all coached by locally trained professionals, graduates of the same system that produced their players. As Lekjaa proudly noted:
“Generation passes to generation. All categories work according to one philosophy. Every player knows his path before reaching the top.”
If Nigeria truly desires to become a football powerhouse — not just in Africa but globally — it must go back to the foundation.
What Nigeria Must Do — Urgently
For Nigeria to become not just an African force but a global football powerhouse, it must learn from Morocco’s disciplined, data-driven model and stop relying on chance and nostalgia.
Here’s what must change:
- Develop a National Football Masterplan — and Enforce It:
Nigeria must adopt a legally backed national sports development framework, binding on successive administrations, with clear funding, timelines, and accountability. - Invest in Youth Academies and Infrastructure:
Each geopolitical zone should host a modern football academy linked to schools and communities — not token facilities, but genuine centres of excellence like Morocco’s. - Reform and Commercialize the NPFL:
A vibrant league is the foundation of a strong national team. The NPFL must become transparent, media-driven, and investor-friendly. Clubs must be empowered to run professionally, not politically. - Empower Local Coaches and Technical Experts:
Nigeria needs to develop its own Walid Regraguis — homegrown tacticians capable of leading at the highest levels, supported by continuous education and exposure. - Integrate Home-Based Players into the National Team:
The gap between the NPFL and the Super Eagles must close. Incentives and structured scouting should ensure the best local players compete for national team slots. - Treat Football as a Socioeconomic Driver:
Morocco’s royal vision turned football into an engine for youth empowerment, national unity, and economic growth. Nigeria must adopt the same approach — seeing football as nation-building, not just recreation.
A Call to Action
The lesson is clear: Morocco built; Nigeria borrowed. Morocco planned; Nigeria hoped.
The result is that Morocco now earns — in prestige, infrastructure, and FIFA dollars — while Nigeria remains a footballing giant in name only.
Dreams do not win trophies. Systems do.
As Morocco continues its ascent — from the World Cup semi-finals to the top of African football and global recognition — Nigeria must ask itself a hard question:
Will it continue outsourcing its football glory to foreign clubs, or finally invest in its own?
Because until Nigeria strengthens its domestic league and empowers its own football ecosystem, the nation will keep watching others — like Morocco — reap both the glory and the rewards of African excellence.
–Kunle Solaja has visited Morocco many times
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The Supreme Council of Sufi Orders has officially recognised the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, marking a significant step in the regulation of Sufi practices and reinforcing what the Council describes as its commitment to a moderate religious approach.
Sheikh Sayyid Ayman Hamdi al-Akbariyya, head of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order, met with Dr Abdel-Hadi al-Qasabi, Grand Sheikh of Sufi Orders and President of the Supreme Council, where he presented the official recognition decree.
With the issuance of the decree, the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order becomes one of the officially recognised Sufi orders in the Arab Republic of Egypt, joining 80 other orders operating under the Council’s umbrella.
According to officials, the recognition follows a period of organisational and administrative work by the Order’s leadership, including compliance with legal requirements and regulatory standards approved by the Council. The move is expected to strengthen the Order’s institutional presence and enhance its religious and spiritual role within Egyptian society.
Rooted in the Legacy of Ibn Arabi
The Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order derives its methodology from the teachings of the renowned Sufi master Ibn Arabi, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Islamic mysticism. The Order has followers in Egypt and across several countries in the Islamic world, with a notable presence in parts of Europe and Asia.
Its teachings emphasise love, spiritual purification, tolerance and deepening the spiritual dimension of Muslim life.
During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of adhering to the moderate Azharite approach and strengthening the role of Sufi orders in promoting sound religious awareness, ethical values, coexistence and social peace.
The Influence of “The Greatest Sheikh”
Born in 560 AH in Murcia, Andalusia, Ibn Arabi — whose full name was Muhyiddin Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Arabi al-Hatimi al-Ta’i al-Andalusi — grew up in a scholarly and spiritual environment. He later travelled extensively across North Africa and the Levant before settling in Damascus, where he died in 638 AH/1240 CE. His shrine in Damascus remains a well-known landmark.
Often referred to as “The Greatest Sheikh,” Ibn Arabi’s school of thought came to be known as the Akbariyya. Among his most celebrated works are Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations), Fusus al-Hikam (The Bezels of Wisdom), and Tarjuman al-Ashwaq (The Interpreter of Desires).
His writings are characterised by philosophical depth and a mystical exploration of divine love, spiritual purification and the concept of the “perfect human being.” His influence has shaped Sufi thought across the Islamic world and extended into intellectual circles in Europe and Asia.
The formal recognition of the Akbariyya Hatimiyya Order reflects Egypt’s continued effort to regulate religious institutions while preserving the rich spiritual traditions rooted in centuries of Islamic scholarship and mysticism.
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- Summary
- * Tottenham slip closer to the relegation zone
- * West Ham denied at the death by Man Utd
- * Chelsea held at home by Leeds
Yet another Premier League home defeat left Tottenham Hotspur looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone and manager Thomas Frank nearer the exit door on Tuesday as Newcastle United eased their own slump with a 2-1 victory in north London.
Last season’s Europa League winners and qualifiers for this season’s Champions League last-16 were booed off after Jacob Ramsey sealed a rare away win for Eddie Howe’s side.
Tottenham would have found themselves only three points above the drop zone had it not been for Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to deny 18th-placed West Ham United a 1-0 win.
The 1-1 draw kept United in fourth place although it ended caretaker manager Michael Carrick’s 100% record since taking over in January.
Another unblemished record went at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior dropped his first league points since replacing Enzo Maresca, his side drawing 2-2 at home to Leeds United having led 2-0.
Bournemouth came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Everton with second-half goals by Brazilian teenager Rayan and Amine Adli. Everton, who had led through Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty, ended with 10 men after Jake O’Brien was red-carded.
Tottenham have not been relegated from the top flight since 1977 but such is the present malaise at the club it is now becoming a genuine fear as they are in 16th place, five points above West Ham whose form is on the up.
They have not won a Premier League game since December 28 and have managed only two victories from their 13 home league games this season. To make matters worse, their next fixture is at home to north London rivals and leaders Arsenal.
‘UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION’
Whether Frank is still in charge then is beginning to look increasingly unlikely. Not for the first time this season, the Dane left the pitch to chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ from Tottenham’s fans.
“I understand the frustration and the easiest thing is to point at me,” Frank said of the fans. “That’s part of the job unfortunately. I will work day and night to turn this around but it is not just one person. There is no doubt we need to improve and I need to be part of that.”
Newcastle completely dominated the first half and the only surprise was it took them until stoppage time to get ahead as defender Malick Thiaw stabbed home a rebound.
Injury-hit Tottenham were marginally better after the break and Archie Gray levelled. But Newcastle deservedly took the points when Anthony Gordon teed up Ramsey for a cute finish, his first goal since joining from Aston Villa.
Newcastle moved up to 10th in the table on 36 points. Tottenham have 29 points from 26 games, with Nottingham Forest, who play bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, on 26 from 25. West Ham have 24.
SESKO SALVAGES POINT FOR MAN UNITED
West Ham were seconds away from a fourth win in five league games as they led with Tomas Soucek’s strike early in the second half after good work by Jarrod Bowen.
United had an effort from Casemiro ruled out but salvaged a point when substitute Sesko struck at the death.
Carrick’s side have 45 points, one more than Chelsea who will be kicking themselves after drawing with Leeds.
“It is a tough place to come and we didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers,” Carrick said. “Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”
Chelsea appeared to be cruising with goals either side of the interval from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer who scored his third penalty in two games.
But they threw away two points as Moises Caicedo fouled Jayden Bogle and Lukas Nmecha converted a penalty before Noah Okafor poked in an equaliser after Chelsea failed to clear a ball into the area.
“If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we’re switched on for 90 minutes. It’s as simple as that,” Rosenior said afterwards.
The draw lifted Leeds above Tottenham into 15th.
-Reuters
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Rivers United’s campaign in the CAF Champions League suffered a major setback on Sunday after the Nigerian champions fell 1–0 at home to Zambia’s Power Dynamos.
The defeat, recorded in Uyo, leaves Rivers United anchored at the bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches, severely denting their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
With only two matches left in the group, the Port Harcourt-based side now faces an uphill task, as both remaining fixtures are against the group’s leading teams; Morocco’s RS Berkane and defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt.
Sunday’s result boosted Power Dynamos’ chances, as the Zambian side moved up to third place in the group with four points, three adrift of second-placed RS Berkane. Berkane’s position was weakened earlier in the day after they were thrashed 3–0 by Pyramids in Egypt.
Pyramids FC continued their impressive run in the group, tightening their grip on the standings with 10 points from four matches to remain firmly on course for qualification.
For Rivers United, the loss marked another frustrating night in their continental campaign, with hopes of a late revival now resting on unlikely results against Africa’s in-form clubs in the remaining group fixtures.
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