Talent Poaching? Qatar Launches Massive Offensive to Naturalize Young Moroccan Football Talents!

Qatar’s failure during its World Cup has pushed the local federation (QFA) to deep reflection. With only 10% of nationals among its 2.6 million inhabitants, the emirate considers its pool insufficient to perform. To remedy this, Doha is now identifying foreign players playing in its leagues, eligible for naturalization after five years of residence.

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This policy is massively turning towards the Maghreb. During a recent gathering, around forty players were tested, including several promising Moroccan profiles. According to Jeune Afrique, names like Mohamed Taabouni, Younes El Hannach, Kaïs Najeh or Yanis Fetheddine are on the Qatari radar to eventually join the national team.

For former Moroccan international Abdeslam Ouaddou, this offensive is no surprise. He underlines the financial power of the emirate, which knows how to be convincing with 18 or 19-year-olds. "Morocco has implemented a player development policy in recent years, but that won’t prevent young footballers from being tempted by the Qatari project," warns the technician.

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This precedent recalls the strategy used by Qatar during the 2015 Handball World Cup. The offer of a passport combined with financial compensation and high salaries is a strong argument for these athletes. Despite the training efforts within the Kingdom, the competition with Doha’s means remains a major challenge to retain local talents.