Former Morocco Star Sparks Controversy by Backing Algerian FIFA Candidate over Moroccan

Abdeslam Ouaddou, former Moroccan international, supports the candidacy of the president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), Kheireddine Zetchi, for the position of member of the FIFA Executive Committee, to the detriment of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), who is also a candidate for this position.

"The best candidate for the position. A man capable of boosting African football through his integrity, honesty, humility, his values at work and above all his knowledge of the football ecosystem. My unwavering support to Mr. Zetchi, President of the FAF," Abdeslam Ouaddou tweeted in support of the FAF president. This publication surprised, particularly Mustapha Hadji, one of his former teammates in the national team. "I really don’t understand Abdesslam Ouaddou’s latest outings on social networks," he said to Hespress.

Mustapha Hadji, current assistant coach of the Atlas Lions, believes that the president of the FRMF fully deserves this position. "We really have to be blind not to see the achievements and the work accomplished by Fouzi Lekjaa at the national and continental level," he specified. And to add: "Fouzi Lekjaa, beyond my nationalism and patriotism, is objectively and by far the perfect candidate for this position, the one who would best preserve the interests of African football in the highest body of world football".

Several former Atlas Lions players have also condemned Abdeslam Ouaddou’s tweets and invited him to support Fouzi Lekjaa’s candidacy. According to some observers, Abdeslam Ouaddou would have made these tweets to take revenge after his dismissal from Mouloudia d’Oujda at the start of the season for his poor results and his bad behavior towards certain club employees.