BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Morocco.
FIFA Council member, Fouzi Lekjaa who also doubles as the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has promised an excellent service delivery when Morocco hosts the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025.
Morocco was an overwhelming winner of the bidding process that led to the award of the continental premier sports competition earlier in the year.
The intense confidence reposed on Morocco has apparently brought pressure on the Moroccan football federation which has promised not to disappoint.
Just after the CAF Awards on Monday, the FRMF went into its general assembly on Thursday. Lekjaa, who is also a a senior Moroccan civil servant and Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget in the Kingdom of Morocco told the general assembly of FRMF that both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup will be of the highest in terms of service delivery.
Delegates at the General Assembly of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Thursday.
He rolled out Morocco’s most notable recent accomplishments in the world of football as well as becoming the ultimate destination for football competitions in Africa. It is however not a bed of roses as Lekjaa outlined the most important challenges awaiting the kingdom in the upcoming years.
The first of the challenges is the construction and renovation of several football stadiums.
During the assembly, Lekjaa urged the presidents of national clubs, regional leagues, and all the actors in the field of football to work on making the 2025 AFCON and the 2030 World Cup successful.
“You are responsible for the success of a historic royal project in the year 2030,” Lekjaa told the officials in question.
He went on to say that before 2030, Morocco will be able to demonstrate its capabilities by hosting the 2025 AFCON, the first time that Morocco organizes such event in 37 years. Morocco last hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988. Cameroon and Nigeria played the final match.
Therefore, “responsibility has doubled, as we have to prove to the world that we are capable of organizing the World Cup, and that we will organize the best African Cup that the continent has ever seen,” he added.
Additionally, Lekjaa urged the leaders of the regional leagues to facilitate the infusion of fresh talent so that they can contribute additional value in the upcoming years.
In order to achieve more inclusive football success, the president noted that the country must improve football performance within the various leagues, including the women’s and amateur leagues.
“We must balance the reputation of our country with our endeavor to organize the World Cup and major demonstrations successfully, as well as develop our presence at the continental and global levels,” the president concluded.
