A group of seven players from the Mohammed VI Football Academy will represent Morocco in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday in Cairo, a sign of the academy’s growing role in shaping national football success, Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) wrote.
Hamza Koutoune, Fouad Zahouani, Houssam Essadak, Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal, Yassir Zabiri, Mouad Dahak, and Ahmad Khatir will take the field against South Africa with a shot at the U20 continental title.
The U17 team set the tone in April when they claimed their historic championship at home, defeating Mali 4-2 in the final.
Four players from that U17 squad, including Soufiane El Idrissi, Ilyass Hidaoui, Adam Jout, and standout goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch, also trained at the academy. Bellaarouch gained national attention for his decisive saves in penalty shootouts during the semifinals and final.
Each major competition reaffirms the role of the academy, founded in 2010 by King Mohammed VI, as a central force in Morocco’s football strategy.
The institution combines a strict selection process with a nationwide scouting network to develop elite players who contribute to national teams across categories, senior, U23, U20, and U17.
The training model merges education and sport, offering a dual academic and football curriculum. The facility follows international standards and prepares its athletes for professional careers in Morocco and abroad. Its players work daily with experienced coaches and technical staff, building both technical skills and mental endurance.
The modern infrastructure and high-quality facilities allow players to train and grow in ideal conditions. The academy’s work supports a broader national vision for football development that includes talent identification in remote regions, performance optimization, and ongoing coach education.
This year’s youth successes show the long-term return on that investment. The presence of academy graduates at every level of Moroccan football reflects a well-established system producing results on the continental and international stages.
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