Morocco Sees Surge in American Football Popularity, Especially Among Women

Still little known in Morocco a few years ago, the sport has gained in popularity, mainly among women. Amin, 14, has been playing American football for nearly a year on the Jaguars team in Rabat, created in 2012. In this club made up of a male and a female team, the training sessions are mixed and take place on a pitch located on the banks of the Bouregreg river.

The players, young people of both sexes and different levels, prepare for the training session led by the head coach, Tarik Nabati, in a family atmosphere and with discipline. The players are divided into attack and defense groups to practice before playing a game together.

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"I prefer women to train with men to improve their level," the coach explained to EFE. The tactic is paying off, according to Hind, 26, a member of the Jaguars women’s team. "Training with my male colleagues has allowed me to improve my level of play. I was chosen as the best ’corner back’ in the African championship we played in 2020 in Egypt," she says.

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The women’s team finished second in this competition. Despite the aggressiveness and complexity of the game, the players believe they can go far in this discipline. "American football is different. It’s a team sport. We, the women, have shown that it’s not just a game for men," said Nisrine, 30, who started practicing this sport a few years ago after accompanying her husband to a training session.

In Morocco, American football is practiced by fourteen teams, including six women’s teams. The promoters are seeking to create a federation for greater professionalization.