Naïnia: From Neighborhood Fields to the Top Scorers and Stardom of the Moroccan Women’s National Team
Qineter Office
From a humble neighborhood in the city of Kenitra to the continental championship podiums, Fatima Zahra Naïnia, a player for Hilal Temara and a star of the national women’s team, has crafted an exceptional journey, crowned at the age of 15 with the title of the best player in Africa in 2022 at the Kinshasa School Championship, making her one of the icons of the new generation of Moroccan women’s football.
Today, at the age of eighteen, she leads the scoring chart for Hilal Temara with 13 goals and ranks fourth in the national professional league’s scoring race. But she is not content with that; she is also the captain of the under-20 national team and a key player in the under-23 national team.
In an interview with “Express TV,” Fatima Zahra said:
“I feel the responsibility every time I step onto the pitch. I am not just a player, but a role model for girls who dream of playing football. When I wear the captain’s armband, I think of all the sacrifices my family has made for me.”
From “Neighborhood Neymar” to “African Neymar”
Her title given by the president of the Tangier Student Union as "Neymar" reflects not only her technical dribbling skills but also her ability to make a difference in crucial moments. She began her career with the Kenitra club, before moving to teams like KAC Kebdana, the Student Union of Tangier, and the Future Generation of Tangier, where her talent exploded, ending the 2023 season as the top scorer in the Northern League with 44 goals.
Fatima Zahra highlights in an interview with the sports channel:
“I trained under difficult conditions, sometimes on dirt pitches, but I believed that hard work would make the difference. I would wake up before sunrise to train and review my studies afterward. I did not choose between education and football, but believed I could succeed in both.”
International Shine and Awareness of Identity
She participated in the 2023 African Games in Ghana with the under-23 national team, being the youngest Moroccan African player there. She also contributed to the under-20 national team’s qualification for the 2024 World Cup in Colombia.
In a statement to a news site, she declared:
“Wearing the national team’s jersey is indescribable. When I hear the national anthem, I feel that all the hard work of the years was not in vain. I dream of winning the Women’s World Cup someday with Morocco.”
A Model for the New Generation
Through her media appearances and initiatives, Naïnia seeks to encourage girls to engage in sports and break stereotypes. She has been invited on several national channels and radio stations to talk about her experience, including public and private media.
About her ambitions, she said in her last interview on “Al Aoula” channel:
“My dream is to play professionally in Europe, but I will not leave until I help Hilal Temara win a national title and develop women’s football in my city, Kenitra. Morocco has given me a lot, and I owe it everything.”
Fatima Zahra Naïnia is not only a remarkable football talent but a rising female voice that opens new horizons for Moroccan sports. If "Neymar" is synonymous with skill in the world of football, then "Naïnia" has become synonymous with determination, commitment, and a renewed dream.
Player Profile: Fatima Zahra Naïnia, born in 2006.
Current Club: Hilal Temara – Professional First Division
Position: Defensive winger for the national team and attacking winger for Hilal Temara
Number: 2
Achievements:
• Best Player in Africa at the School Championship (Kinshasa 2022)
• Top Scorer for Hilal Temara in the 2024/2025 season with 13 goals
• Fourth top scorer in the national professional league
• Captain of the under-20 national team
• Key player in the under-23 national team
• Official primary player in the under-20 World Cup (Colombia 2024) with all matches played
• Led the Future Generation of Tangier to victory in the Northern League in 2023 (44 goals in one season)
Her nickname in the football community: “Morocco’s Neymar”
Her media personality: Calm, dedicated, believes in the role of women in sports, and aspires for European professionalism.
