African Cup of Nations 2025: Can Morocco achieve African dominance on its soil?

To achieve this goal, Morocco has invested heavily, especially in football infrastructure, including two of the most advanced facilities in Africa – both named after King Mohammed VI.

The Mohammed VI Football Academy and the Mohammed VI Training Complex jointly host youth and senior national teams – men and women – combining elite training, education, accommodation and sports science.

“This development in Moroccan football is not a random achievement,” Bonouar said.

“This came after years of strategic planning and a long-term national project supported by the highest levels of Moroccan authorities.”

King Mohammed first discussed his plan to use football as a tool for social and economic development in 2008, before opening the academy in 2009 and the $65m (£48.5m) training complex in 2019.

“The idea was to give young talent modern facilities, good coaches, good education and a healthy environment,” Bonwar added.

This structure has helped create a steady pipeline of both local clubs and the national team, along with an increasing number of players competing for major European clubs.

Nigerian photojournalist Suleiman Adebayo, who has visited Morocco several times, agrees that the rise of football in the country is no coincidence.

“Everything they have done over the last four or five years has been intentional in terms of building facilities and improving football,” he said.

“It’s strategic and intentional — it shows.”

While fans have enjoyed the improved performance of the Moroccan national teams, the amount of investment has recently come under greater scrutiny.

The so-called Generation Z protests this year saw the country’s younger generation calling for “hospitals, not stadiums”, as Morocco continues to spend big on new facilities ahead of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

“There are different opinions,” Bonwar said.

“The majority of Moroccans view football as an essential national project that provides benefits off the field.

“Most of them believe that success in football is a great way to unite a diverse population and raise Morocco’s profile on a global level, attracting interest such as tourism.”

According to statistics from FIFA and the Moroccan Football Federation, participation has increased at the grassroots level.

Bonnoir believes sport is becoming “more embedded in everyday life”, with more children playing outside of school – something that is not limited to boys and men, with increased social acceptance of girls playing football having been an original part of King Mohammed VI’s plan.

This was helped by the Atlas Lionesses reaching consecutive Women’s Cup of Nations finals on home soil, while captain Ghizlane El Chebbak was named African New Player of the Year.