Morocco Football Federation (FRMF) president Fouzi Lekjaa has expressed concern over the declining role of home-based players, warning that the country’s recent international success is increasingly being driven by talent developed abroad rather than through the domestic league.
Speaking at a meeting with coaches from the Botola Pro and second division in Rabat, Lekjaa said there is a growing gap between players competing in Morocco and those based in Europe.
Despite Morocco’s rise to sixth in the FIFA World Rankings and a quarter-final finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lekjaa believes the domestic game is producing fewer players capable of breaking into the national team.
Youth development under scrutiny
Lekjaa noted that the trend extends across Morocco’s youth national teams, where the majority of players are either products of European academies or the Mohammed VI Football Academy, rather than Botola clubs.
FRMF technical director Fathi Jamal echoed those concerns, revealing that Morocco’s current Under-18 squad in Spain is made up entirely of players developed domestically, yet very few are receiving regular first-team football in the Botola.
According to Jamal, only clubs such as Raja Casablanca and Wydad Athletic Club occasionally hand young players limited opportunities, leaving many without meaningful senior experience.
Union Touarga praised
Amid the concerns, Lekjaa and Jamal highlighted Union Touarga as a model for youth development.
The Rabat-based club has successfully integrated graduates of the Mohammed VI Academy into senior football, providing a pathway for young players to develop at professional level.
Forward Tawfik Bentayeb was singled out as a prime example. While on loan at Troyes, the 24-year-old finished as the top scorer in Ligue 2 last season with 20 goals and is expected to secure a permanent move back to European football.
