Fouzi Lekjaa: the public face of Moroccan football and the man tasked with implementing King Mohammed VI’s plan
- Battle for the World Cup final venue
- Lekjaa: a nightmare for Algeria
- The controversy with Senegal
- Egypt dreams of Lekjaa
Fouzi Lekjaa was the figure chosen by King Mohammed VI to chair the Moroccan Organising Committee for the 2030 World Cup. With his emblematic personality, which has sparked controversy with Morocco’s eastern and northern neighbours, he has managed to implement the royal action plan in record time and with a mastery recognised more by his opponents than by his allies.
Lekjaa spearheads the sports diplomacy that promotes a positive image of Morocco, which has become a host destination for international football events, such as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2030 FIFA U-20 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal.
Battle for the World Cup final venue
Having acknowledged that Morocco is making rapid progress in its preparations through massive projects such as stadiums, roads, airports, railways and hotels, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Louzán, explicitly revealed the threat to Spain’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup final.
Fans inside one of Morocco’s superb football stadiums ahead of the World Cup – REUTERS/ AMR ABDALLAH
As reported by the Spanish press, the Spanish Football Federation president’s concern stems from the efficiency and effectiveness with which Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Organising Committee for the 2030 World Cup, is working, in contrast to the Spanish team, where various parties overlap in the committee’s work, without any real effectiveness on the ground.
Within the Spanish Federation, there is concern about the speed with which major projects are being implemented in Morocco, whilst in Spain several cities that were due to host matches, such as La Coruña and Málaga, have withdrawn from the bid.
Fouzi Lekjaa is the figurehead of Moroccan football – PHOTO/ Wikipedia
Lekjaa: a nightmare for Algeria
In addition to Spain, a partner in organising the World Cup but a rival in the race to host the final, the figure of Fouzi Lekjaa also arouses suspicion in Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival in the Maghreb.
In Algeria, the mega-projects currently underway in Morocco – such as stadiums, airports, motorways, high-speed trains, hotels and ports – are being called into question.
The Algerian media devote a significant portion of their coverage to questioning the projects being carried out in various parts of Morocco, in a sort of obsession that seems ridiculous in the Arab and Maghreb context.
One of the issues most criticised from Algeria is Lekjaa’s position as a statesman rather than a sportsman. He is a statesman who enjoys the king’s trust and has been entrusted with a series of missions and responsibilities, such as Deputy Minister in charge of the budget, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and President of the 2030 World Cup Organising Committee, as well as holding positions on the executive committees of the African Union, the Arab League and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The new manager shows off a Moroccan national team shirt bearing his name, alongside the Federation’s president, Fouzi Lekjaa – PHOTO/@EnMaroc
The controversy with Senegal
It is not just Algeria; Senegal too is living a nightmare called Fouzi Lekjaa, after its dream of retaining the African title evaporated following the decision by the Confederation of African Football.
The successful organisation of the major continental event and the unprecedented return in the history of African football demonstrate Morocco’s strength, capable of organising, winning, defending and asserting its right until it is achieved.
In fact, the continental title of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was stripped from Senegal following an appeal backed by arguments and evidence, and the law was applied in full against those who caused chaos and disturbances, and violated laws and regulations.
Morocco finally won the African title – REUTERS/ AMR ABDALLAH DALSH
Egypt dreams of Lekjaa
There is no doubt that the success that characterises national sports in general and football in particular – and which is mainly due to the great work carried out by the staff led by Fouzi Lekjaa – is a source of inspiration for several of Morocco’s allies.
Through these achievements, the country has gained global recognition, having become an internationally recognised sporting powerhouse, particularly following the footballing miracle achieved by the Lions at the 2022 World Cup, where they finished fourth, becoming the first Arab and African country to do so.
This led Arab and African nations to share in Morocco’s joy, applauding the so-called “Regragui sons” as they wrote a new chapter in the history of Moroccan football.
In the wake of these successes, Egypt has stated that it is seeking someone with the calibre of Fouzi Lekjaa to lead the national football programme and steer it out of its current predicament, which is characterised by an alarming deterioration in football infrastructure and a decline in the standard of its national teams.
