Cafu: Lajji has the skills and ability to manage large sports projects.

Photo: Hespress

Brazilian football legend Cafu praised the efforts of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, highlighting his competence and ability to manage large sports projects. He noted Lekjaa's commitment to enhancing Morocco's football standing on the international stage, especially with the progress made by national teams at various levels and the ongoing preparations to host the 2030 World Cup in collaboration with Spain and Portugal.

In a special interview with Hespress, Cafu stated that Lekjaa is among the leaders who have shown a clear commitment to serving football in their country. He commended Lekjaa's efforts to develop the game and work towards enabling Morocco to host the World Cup, emphasizing that the success of major football projects requires efficiency, planning, and goal achievement.

The former captain of the Brazilian national team believes that Lekjaa's efforts come amid a noticeable evolution in Moroccan football, whether at the level of national teams or in training and investment in young talents, as evidenced by the results achieved by the kingdom in recent years.

Regarding Morocco's hosting of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, Cafu expressed confidence in the kingdom's ability to deliver an exceptional edition of the tournament, considering the advancements made in infrastructure, sports training, and the development of various age categories.

The former Brazilian star explained that Morocco has proven over the years that it possesses great football ambitions, and hosting the World Cup will be an additional opportunity to showcase the progress of national football, expressing hope that the kingdom will host the final match of this edition.

In assessing the level of Moroccan football, Cafu affirmed that the national team has gained the experience and capabilities to compete for the World Cup title, recalling the historic achievement of the senior team reaching the semifinals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, alongside the U-20 team's global title.

The speaker noted that these results reflect the importance of ongoing investments in training and developing young talents, pointing out that Morocco has proven its ability to compete with major teams, as its presence in the World Cup is now associated with strong results and advanced technical levels.

Cafu added that Morocco's reaching the semifinals in the Qatar World Cup has granted it a new status on the international stage, boosting players' confidence in their ability to go far in global competitions after successfully facing experienced teams.

Cafu emphasized that the Moroccan national team now includes players with significant experience, thanks to their professionalism in prominent clubs across various European leagues, mentioning the presence of Moroccan talents in teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Ajax Amsterdam, in addition to other clubs in Europe and Brazil.

He noted that the exposure of Moroccan players to major competitions has contributed to raising the national team's level, which now possesses a strong character and the ability to face different football styles, stressing that this development enhances Morocco's chances of competing for global titles.

The speaker pointed out that investment in youth categories is one of the key factors for the success of the Moroccan football project, recalling the U-20 team's World Cup victory and the ability of young players to compete against teams with rich traditions in the game.

He emphasized that this achievement reflects the development of grassroots work, explaining that the results achieved by Moroccan teams are no longer limited to the senior team but now include age categories that form the foundation of the future of national football.

Speaking about Achraf Hakimi, the right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, Cafu praised the technical and physical qualities of the Moroccan international, considering that he possesses a strong personality and great self-confidence, along with the boldness to advance into attack and participate in building plays.

The former Brazilian star stated that Hakimi must continue to work in the same way he is accustomed to, without changing his style, stressing that his ability to move forward, take offensive initiatives, and not fear facing opponents gives him important attributes in the right-back position.

Cafu added that the Moroccan international possesses the necessary competence and character to continue his development, expressing confidence in his ability to reach an advanced position among the best defenders in the world, especially if he maintains his current level and continues to enhance his skills.

Cafu's praise was not limited to Hakimi; he also gave a positive assessment of international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, noting that he is one of the names that have made a mark in global football, thanks to the experience he has gained and the levels he has shown throughout his professional career.

The speaker explained that Bounou has become a well-known goalkeeper on the international stage, holding an important position in his role, and noted that he has the ability to continue shining and reach levels comparable to those achieved by great goalkeepers, including Brazilians Claudio Taffarel and Dida.

When discussing Moroccan clubs, Cafu expressed his knowledge of Raja Casablanca, describing it as a great team, recalling its participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, which he believes requires a high level of competitiveness and the ability to face clubs from diverse football schools.

He confirmed that Moroccan clubs are increasingly making their mark in international competitions, reflecting the development of work within national football, noting that the success of clubs also contributes to enhancing the level of national teams and expanding the pool of players capable of competing.

Cafu also mentioned the presence of Moroccan players in the Brazilian league, recalling Botafogo, and praising the opportunities that professionalism in various leagues provides for gaining experience, adapting to new playing styles, and developing technical and physical skills.

Regarding women's football, Cafu affirmed that the game has seen significant development in recent years, as it has gained increasing attention in countries that previously lacked strong traditions in this field, noting that the expansion of participation offers players greater opportunities to compete internationally.

He believes that Brazil hosting the Women's World Cup in the summer of 2027 will be an opportunity to showcase the progress in women's football, given the rising level of national teams and increased public interest in global competitions.

Cafu reiterated his confidence in the future of Moroccan football, stating that the results achieved by national teams, alongside the growing presence of Moroccan players in major clubs and investments in training, confirm that Morocco is moving towards enhancing its position among countries competing for global titles.

The former Brazilian star emphasized that the Moroccan national team now possesses the experience and character necessary to face major teams, and that continuing to develop young talents and infrastructure will enhance its chances of achieving new accomplishments, especially with the upcoming hosting of the 2030 World Cup.