Crowning the Lions of the Atlas: A Result of Visionary Royal Sports Policy
By: Najiba Jalal
The Moroccan national team of under-twenty players winning the World Cup was not just a fleeting moment of joy or a rare footballing coincidence; it is a testament to a long national journey characterized by hard work, planning, and vision. This journey has been wisely guided by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, who has made sports a strategic choice for human development and enhancing the Kingdom’s visibility both regionally and internationally.
This victory crowns a comprehensive royal vision that considers investment in human resources as the foundation of any renaissance. Sports is not merely a luxury, but a pillar of education, discipline, and citizenship, serving as a gateway for youth empowerment and the building of a modern Moroccan identity.
From Royal Vision to Comprehensive National Policy
Since the national sports forums in 2013, His Majesty the King set out the framework for a new sports policy, making “Sports for All” both a slogan and a principle. His Majesty’s directives at that time went beyond encouraging sports practice; they extended toward structuring the system, training personnel, generalizing infrastructure, and linking sports with social and local development. Thanks to this sound royal approach, Morocco has transitioned from improvisational sports to strategic planning, with sports becoming a fundamental component of public policy and a continuous workshop for youth development and champion production.
Mohammed VI Academy: A School of Excellence and Champion-Making
This transformation embodies the royal vision in its most splendid form through the Mohammed VI Football Academy, established in 2010 and strengthened after 2013. His Majesty envisioned this academy as a model institution combining rigorous sports training, solid academic education, and high moral discipline.
From this academy emerged young talents who have proven today that Morocco possesses a unique model in developing talents and creating champions, a model that balances technical proficiency with national awareness, combining personal ambition with the service of the national flag. The fact that a large number of players from the World Cup-winning team are alumni of this royal institution confirms that investing in human capital is the shortest path to achieving sports greatness.
Sports in Every Home: A Policy of Proximity and Spatial Equity
The royal vision did not stop at the elite level; it reached deep into Moroccan society through an ambitious policy aimed at building community sports fields and regional training centers, equipping cities and villages alike with modern sports facilities. His Majesty wanted the right to practice sports to be universal, not a privilege for a select few.
Thus, sports infrastructure has become a component of spatial justice, providing youth in both the north and south, in the mountains and the cities, with spaces to express themselves, hone their skills, and embrace the values of fair competition.
The Fruit of Royal Vision in Various Platforms
What has been achieved today did not happen by chance. The historical progress of the “Lions of the Atlas” in the 2022 World Cup was the first ripe fruit of this pioneering sports policy, where the Moroccan team carried the torch of Africa and the Arab world in a splendid display of brilliance and collective spirit.
Today, the crowning of the Lions of the Atlas underscores that Moroccan success was no fluke, but rather the result of a long-term vision built on meticulous royal planning.
Furthermore, the emergence of Moroccan women’s football, its qualification for the World Cup, and reaching the finals of the Africa Cup demonstrate that the royal vision transcends support for men, actively empowering women in sports—a refined expression of the inclusivity of the Moroccan sports project.
Sports: A Reflection of New Morocco
Thanks to wise royal leadership, sports today stands as a symbol of a new Morocco that believes in the values of work, excellence, and commitment. It is no longer merely a realm of entertainment but a school of education and a space for instilling values of citizenship and belonging. The crowning of the Lions of the Atlas is a celebration of a national generation raised under a royal vision that acknowledges that true glory is forged through hard work, teamwork, and genuine national spirit.
National Pride and Continental and International Brilliance
Winning the World Cup for players under twenty is both a moment of national glory and a collective awareness of the depth of the Moroccan sports project. It affirms that planning, seriousness, and perseverance, when combined with political will and a keen royal vision, can transform a developing country into an emerging power in sports and humanity alike.
This is the fruit of a royal vision that has believed in youth, embraced talent, and built on experiences to create a new chapter in Morocco’s legacy of glory, a chapter titled: “Sports as a Catalyst for Development, with the Lions of the Atlas as Symbols of a Confident Morocco Steadfastly Moving Towards the Future.”
