Adam Masina: The destiny of the child from Khouribga adopted in Italy and become the bulwark of Morocco

As Footmercato points out, his installation in the center of the defense was not yet acquired at the beginning of the competition. It took the injury of Romain Saïss and the uncertainties surrounding Jawad El Yamiq for Masina to seize his chance and finally stabilize a Moroccan defense in search of benchmarks.

Behind this sporting success lies an extraordinary human trajectory. Born Adam Zahi in Khouribga, the player was adopted at only two years old by a family in Bologna, completely moving away from his Moroccan roots following a family tragedy. His choice to join the Atlas Lions in 2021, after having hoped to join the Italian national team for a time, marked the beginning of a complex reconciliation with his past. For someone who initially did not master any of the codes of Moroccan culture, each match under the national jersey has become a step towards a rediscovered identity.

Despite the legitimate doubts of the coach about his lack of playing time in Italy, Masina has proven his effectiveness in the confrontations against Nigeria and Cameroon. His ability to lead the defense and his physical impact have reassured a once skeptical public. At 32 years old, the defender now faces his destiny: to offer Morocco a Cup of Africa on its own soil and to complete, with a historic title, a return to his roots begun four years ago.