The French Football Federation (FFF) has rejected suggestions that Abdeslam Ouaddou was denied entry to France’s highest coaching qualification because of his background.
The Franco-Moroccan coach has twice been unsuccessful in his attempts to gain admission to the Brevet d’entraîneur professionnel de football (BEPF) programme, prompting him to question the lack of diversity among coaches operating at the highest levels of French football.
The FFF says candidates’ origins have no influence on its selection decisions and insists admission is determined by sporting and professional criteria.
Ouaddou, 47, currently manages South African club Orlando Pirates and has continued his coaching career outside France after failing to secure a place on the elite qualification programme.
Laurent Chatrefoux of the FFF’s National Technical Directorate told L’Équipe that a candidate’s background cannot be used when deciding who is admitted to the BEPF.
He said using a person’s origin as a selection criterion would be illegal and contrary to the federation’s principles.
The issue came into focus after Ouaddou publicly criticised the level of diversity within France’s coaching system earlier this month.
“When the FFF understands that coaches need to be a little more diverse, we will have made progress,” Ouaddou said.
The former Morocco international has expressed frustration over his inability to obtain the qualification required to manage professionally at the highest level in France.
The BEPF is highly competitive, with the FFF explaining that approximately 40 coaches compete each year for only 10 available places.
According to the federation, candidates are assessed through a selection process that places particular emphasis on two oral examinations.
Those assessments examine areas including a candidate’s motivation and their ability to prepare tactical training sessions.
The FFF says these elements, rather than nationality or personal background, form an important part of the decision-making process.
The federation also pointed to Ouaddou’s earlier progress through the French coaching system.
He successfully obtained both his Brevet d’entraîneur de football (BEF) and Diplôme d’État supérieur (DES) qualifications without encountering difficulties, according to the FFF.
His inability to secure a place on the BEPF programme has nevertheless prevented him from obtaining the highest French coaching diploma needed to manage professionally in the country.
Ouaddou has consequently continued to pursue opportunities abroad.
His current position at Orlando Pirates has allowed him to continue developing his managerial career in South Africa, while his experience has brought renewed attention to the challenges faced by coaches seeking to reach the highest levels of the profession.
The debate has also prompted reactions from figures who know Ouaddou from his playing and coaching career in France.
Jacky Bonnevay, who worked with him during their time at Nancy, said he was surprised by Ouaddou’s recent comments.
Bonnevay recalled having previously encouraged Ouaddou to explore opportunities outside France when he struggled to find suitable coaching positions in his home country.
Ouaddou’s situation has since become part of a wider discussion about diversity and access to elite coaching pathways in French football.
While the FFF maintains that its selection process is based entirely on established sporting criteria, Ouaddou’s repeated failure to gain entry to the BEPF has raised questions about the opportunities available to coaches from diverse backgrounds.
For now, the former Morocco international will continue his managerial career in Africa, where he is leading Orlando Pirates.
The disagreement over his BEPF applications has meanwhile kept the issue of diversity in French coaching under scrutiny, with the FFF maintaining that a candidate’s origin has no place in its selection decisions.
