Morocco’s U17 Team Set for Africa Cup Opener Against Uganda

Mr. Lekjaa asked the young players to "present a level worthy of the reputation of national football," stressing the importance of representing Morocco well in this continental competition at home. The president of the federation based this expectation on the technical abilities observed during the North African championship, an international tournament at the Mohammed VI Complex and preparation friendly matches.

Fouzi Lekjaa also highlighted the role of collective work in today’s football, indicating that harmony and cooperation between players, as well as effective communication, are necessary to achieve lasting success. He presented this participation in the U17 AFCON as an important step in the players’ training.

The leader called on the team to adopt a winning culture, describing it as a "fundamental element that distinguishes great teams." He recalled that expectations are high, specifically mentioning that "the Moroccan public expects the national under-17 team to win the continental title." These expectations follow the team’s performance in the previous edition, where it reached the final, and its performance in the U17 World Cup where it was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Mali.

The Moroccan U17 selection begins its competition this Sunday, March 30, facing Uganda at the Mohammedia stadium. It will then meet Zambia on Thursday, April 3, and Tanzania on Sunday, April 6 to conclude the group stage.

Twelve national teams, divided into four groups, are participating in this tournament. The competition also serves as a qualifying event for the World Cup in the category, scheduled in Qatar later in the year.