CAN 2025 - Morocco: Fouzi Lekjaa clearly states his ambitions | OneFootball

Fouzi Lekjaa

Minister in charge of the budget, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and a central figure in organizing CAN 2025, Fouzi Lekjaa has in recent hours made Morocco’s ambitions clear both on and off the pitch. This comes just months before the tournament kicks off (December 21 - January 18).

In a lengthy interview with L’Équipe, Fouzi Lekjaa spoke about a competition "meeting international standards" featuring nine ready stadiums, including those in Rabat and Tangier, which will also host matches of the 2030 World Cup.

Lekjaa is openly aiming for a second continental title, 50 years after the 1976 triumph. With key players like Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli—all of whom reached European cup finals this season—the president of the Moroccan Federation believes the Atlas Lions have "the potential to go for this CAN" and are fully aware of their capability. "We’re not dreaming; we have legitimate ambition," he stated.

After reaching the semi-finals of the last World Cup, Morocco is determined to establish itself among football’s elite, with eyes already set on future challenges. "Doing better than in Qatar is already our goal for 2026! We’re not going to wait until 2030 to try," insists Lekjaa, setting the bar high ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He emphasizes that Morocco is now a major force on the global stage. "Today, in terms of squad depth, Morocco has nothing to envy from any European or South American side," he concluded.