U17 World Cup Qatar 2025: Fouzi Lekjaa Urges Moroccan Players to Give Their All for the Title
The President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, has called on the national U17 team players, who will compete in the FIFA U17 World Cup to be held in Qatar from November 3 to 27, to give their best in order to bring home the title.
Speaking on Monday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, where he met with members of the national U17 delegation, Mr. Lekjaa assured that the Federation will provide all the necessary resources to ensure the team’s success, both for players and staff.
He urged every player not to “limit their ambition,” to approach the competition with focus and calm, and to favor a simple and collective style of play. He also emphasized the importance of mental strength as a key factor for achieving positive results.
Mr. Lekjaa reminded the young players that the winning mentality is a shared trait among all Moroccan national teams, which have achieved remarkable results in recent years, including the senior team, the futsal squad, the Olympic team, the U20 selection, and the U17 team itself.
For his part, head coach Nabil Baha stated that his players aim to follow in the footsteps of the U20 national team, recently crowned world champions, and to approach the World Cup as a continuation of their strong performances during the Africa Cup, despite the difficulty of the challenge ahead.
Baha also highlighted that Moroccan players possess talent recognized worldwide, adding that all eyes will be on their performances.
In preparation for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025, the Moroccan delegation will travel to the United Arab Emirates for a training camp from October 21 to 30, which will include two friendly matches against Venezuela on October 25 and Switzerland on October 29.
On Monday in Salé, Baha announced the final squad list for the tournament, which includes four players from the Mohammed VI Football Academy: Chouaib Bellaarouch, Soufiane El Idrissi, Ilyas Hidaoui, and Walid Ben Salah.
The team also features several players who shone during the final phase of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco from May 13 to 30, 2025, and won by the Moroccan national team. Among them are Abdellah Ouazane, Ilies Belmokhtar, Ziyad Baha, and Moncef Zekri.
Nabil Baha’s squad will compete in Group B alongside Japan, New Caledonia, and Portugal.
Editorial team/le7tv
