Assahafa.com
The Mohammed VI Football Academy is standing out as the spearhead of the “Morocco” brand, thanks to which the Kingdom is reinforcing its international stature, French weekly Le Point writes.
Titled “Football: the Morocco brand,” the news magazine emphasizes that, under the impetus of HM King Mohammed VI, Morocco’s soft power is changing in nature, specifying that hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, followed by the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, is part of the development policy wished by the Sovereign.
The achievements of the Moroccan national team since the 2022 World Cup, Le Point continues, are the culmination of this vision of using the world’s most popular sport as a lever.
Recalling that a training policy and significant resources have been allocated, including the high-level training center Mohammed VI Academy, the news magazine explains that a colossal effort has been deployed to build and/or modernize stadiums, construct high-speed rail lines, and create all the infrastructure necessary to welcome millions of visitors.
Discussing the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations, the weekly notes that this “made in Morocco” African cup offered a spectacle combining the 21st century, popular singers, and the roots of Africa.
“Host country of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, co-organizer of the 2030 World Cup, semi-finalist in Qatar, Rabat has managed to turn the jersey emblazoned with ‘Morocco’ into an economic, diplomatic, and identity symbol,” the weekly outlet notes.
The French publication describes the organization of the opening ceremony of this 34th edition as “mission accomplished,” noting that images of the 68,000-seat Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat have been seen worldwide.
“The Kingdom has set itself a new ambition: to build a team capable of competing with the current big names and to host major football events in quick succession,” Le Point concludes.
Source: map
