Morocco’s U-17 Blueprint: Talent First, Borders Second — Should Nigeria Follow Suit?

[iworo]

For those who haven’t been following the ongoing Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, Morocco has been the standout team in my opinion. This squad featured a mix of local talents and players from prominent European clubs, reflecting Morocco's investment in youth development through institutions like the Mohammed VI Academy and its global scouting network.​

What sets Morocco apart is that they're not caught up in outdated binary of “local vs foreign-based” or even “Morocco-born vs. foreign-born”. Instead, they're clearly scouting globally and assembling squads based purely on merit, potential and long-term value to the national team.

You can see that with how seamlessly they mix players from:

• The Mohammed VI Academy, which continues to be a powerhouse at home.

• Elite clubs like Chelsea, Ajax, PSG, Monaco, Betis, Lyon and Leverkusen.

• And others from lower profile but still well developed European academies.

There’s a consistent philosophy at play here. Develop your top homegrown prospects, tap into your European diaspora and treat all players as equally vital to the project. When that happens, debates about nationality stops being a talking point. It becomes solely about quality..

To me, that's one of the most impressive things about how Morocco is building its youth teams right now. Do you think Nigeria should be moving in the same direction?


Morocco U-17 Squad for 2025 U-17 AFCON

Goalkeepers:

• Yassine Badaoui – FC Rouen (France)

• Soufiane El Idrissi – Mohammed VI Academy (Morocco)

• Chouaib Bellaarouch – Mohammed VI Academy (Morocco)​

Defenders:

• Ilyass Hidaoui – Mohammed VI Academy (Morocco)

• Ilyas El Arbaoui – Athletic Club (Spain)

• Moncef Zekri – K.V. Mechelen (Belgium)

• Joseph Bellahsen – Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)

• Hamza Bouhaddi – FUS Rabat (Morocco)

• Nassim El Massoudi – Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)

• Adam Alioui – Olympique Lyonnais (France)

• Driss Ait Chiekh – Centre Chippo (Morocco)​

Midfielders:

• Mohamed Mounssef – Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

• Zakari El Khalfioui – AC Ajaccio (France)

• Elyes Saidi – AJ Auxerre (France)

• Luis Velilles – Real Betis (Spain)

• Abdellah Ouazzane – Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)

• Adam Soudi – Toulouse FC (France)

• Amine Ouahabi – K.V. Mechelen (Belgium)

• Ahmed Mouhoub – FUS Rabat (Morocco)

• Amine Amgar – MVV Maastricht (Netherlands)​

Forwards:

• Ali El Failali – Málaga CF (Spain)

• Adam Jout – Mohammed VI Academy (Morocco)

• Ibrahim Rabbaj – Chelsea FC (England)

• Ziyad Baha – Real Betis (Spain)

• Ilies Belmokhtar – AS Monaco (France)

• Ismail El Aoud – Valencia CF (Spain)​

[ohenhen1]

Nope, Nigeria has won the most World championships and African championships. Opportunity for local talents like Osimhen to be discovered. If there is a good player that is better than the local players. Nothing is stopping him from coming to camp to compete.

[iworo]

Nope, Nigeria has won the most World championships and African championships. Opportunity for local talents like Osimhen to be discovered. If there is a good player that is better than the local players. Nothing is stopping him from coming to camp to compete.

True, Nigeria has a rich history and success at youth level, no argument about that! But recent trends suggest we can’t rely on history alone. Morocco’s approach isn’t about excluding local talents like Osimhen, it’s about casting the widest net possible, identifying the best young Nigerians worldwide and building a competitive culture around that.

Yes, Osimhen was discovered locally, but imagine combining that kind of raw talent with the structure and tactical training players get at clubs like Ajax, Chelsea or Real Betis.

My brother, it’s not about replacing local players, it’s about raising the standard for everyone. Are we maximizing our global talent pool the way Morocco is doing now? That's the key question here! Got it?

[jette1]

Nope, Nigeria has won the most World championships and African championships. Opportunity for local talents like Osimhen to be discovered. If there is a good player that is better than the local players. Nothing is stopping him from coming to camp to compete.

True, Nigeria has a rich history and success at youth level, no argument about that! But recent trends suggest we can’t rely on history alone. Morocco’s approach isn’t about excluding local talents like Osimhen, it’s about casting the widest net possible, identifying the best young Nigerians worldwide and building a competitive culture around that.

Yes, Osimhen was discovered locally, but imagine combining that kind of raw talent with the structure and tactical training players get at clubs like Ajax, Chelsea or Real Betis.

My brother, it’s not about replacing local players, it’s about raising the standard for everyone. Are we maximizing our global talent pool the way Morocco is doing now? That's the key question here! Got it?

Morocco has escaped several defeats including penalty shootout with CIV which they almost flopped to see them into the final. There is nothing special about them abeggii!!! Especially playing in front of home support and you wouldn’t be posting that had they been knocked out at group stage. And what is thread about Morocco doing in Eagles nest ? Never mind that we all love what the kingdom has been doing nonstop to elevate African football I mean they are always picking up the tab to host anything African since Nigeria has fallen

[akamoke]

Nope, Nigeria has won the most World championships and African championships. Opportunity for local talents like Osimhen to be discovered. If there is a good player that is better than the local players. Nothing is stopping him from coming to camp to compete.

Totally agree, if anything I would argue we double down on this with local taalent and invest strongly , afterall that was the idea behind the youth tournaments in the first place

[akamoke]

Nope, Nigeria has won the most World championships and African championships. Opportunity for local talents like Osimhen to be discovered. If there is a good player that is better than the local players. Nothing is stopping him from coming to camp to compete.

True, Nigeria has a rich history and success at youth level, no argument about that! But recent trends suggest we can’t rely on history alone. Morocco’s approach isn’t about excluding local talents like Osimhen, it’s about casting the widest net possible, identifying the best young Nigerians worldwide and building a competitive culture around that.

Yes, Osimhen was discovered locally, but imagine combining that kind of raw talent with the structure and tactical training players get at clubs like Ajax, Chelsea or Real Betis.

My brother, it’s not about replacing local players, it’s about raising the standard for everyone. Are we maximizing our global talent pool the way Morocco is doing now? That's the key question here! Got it?

I see where you are coming from but the challenge with your suggestion is that we dont have a situation whereby if you played for the youth team you are not locked in for that country, so if those talents get picked up by bigger clubs as they are blosoming, they can be tapped by the Englands of this world, then again we do the same thing with England youths, but it doesnt make it right in my view , in terms of youth development

We have been relatively successful at grassroots , we just need to up the ante in mid to senior level coloirs

[Bigpokey24]

We shouldn't make the mistakes of not developing the kids in Nigeria, if we fail to do so and start recruiting 14s 15s etc from overseas, Nigerian football will be finished and i mean completely dead. I saw the euphoria when Kazier chiefs played Sundowns, over the weekend , my goodness i was impressed.

WE need to start fixing everything , pespi academy etc

[vancity eagle]

Morocco is a WC semi finalist.

Nigeria cannot even qualify for a 48 team World Cup with 10 CAF representatives.

We are a joke.

[iworo]

Morocco is a WC semi finalist.

Nigeria cannot even qualify for a 48 team World Cup with 10 CAF representatives.

We are a joke.

Don't mind these folks . They're acting like it’s either you nurture local talents or bring in diaspora talents. Why not both? Morocco has already proven that a blend of strong local development and elite diaspora influence can work and it took them to semi-final in 2022 World Cup.

Yes, we should invest in our local leagues. Yes, we should scout and nurture the local Osimhens. But also bring in the kids being trained in elite European systems, because at the end of the day, our best young players need to be rubbing shoulders with the best in the world, not just dominating their local peers. That’s how you level up and how you build a modern, competitive national team.

[bret- hart]

Morocco is a WC semi finalist.

Nigeria cannot even qualify for a 48 team World Cup with 10 CAF representatives.

We are a joke.

Don't mind these folks . They're acting like it’s either you nurture local talents or bring in diaspora talents. Why not both? Morocco has already proven that a blend of strong local development and elite diaspora influence can work and it took them to semi-final in 2022 World Cup.

Yes, we should invest in our local leagues. Yes, we should scout and nurture the local Osimhens. But also bring in the kids being trained in elite European systems, because at the end of the day, our best young players need to be rubbing shoulders with the best in the world, not just dominating their local peers. That’s how you level up and how you build a modern, competitive national team.

Nigeria is a hot mess because of Nigerians. We have nobody else to blame but ourselves. Imagine some people still reason like we are in 2015. By now we should be coming up with ways to integrate the diaspora into our youth system like Morocco is doing but no some of our people like ohenhen continue to reason like goats.

[Kabalega]

Nope, Nigeria has won the most World championships and African championships. Opportunity for local talents like Osimhen to be discovered. If there is a good player that is better than the local players. Nothing is stopping him from coming to camp to compete.

True, Nigeria has a rich history and success at youth level, no argument about that! But recent trends suggest we can’t rely on history alone. Morocco’s approach isn’t about excluding local talents like Osimhen, it’s about casting the widest net possible, identifying the best young Nigerians worldwide and building a competitive culture around that.

Yes, Osimhen was discovered locally, but imagine combining that kind of raw talent with the structure and tactical training players get at clubs like Ajax, Chelsea or Real Betis.

My brother, it’s not about replacing local players, it’s about raising the standard for everyone. Are we maximizing our global talent pool the way Morocco is doing now? That's the key question here! Got it?

No argument? Well, here is one ..

Nigeria and her age cheating scandals
viewtopic.php?t=246125

[iworo]

MOROCCO EDGE MALI ON PENALTIES TO WIN U-17 AFCON



Morocco have won the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on home soil after defeating Mali 4-2 on penalties (after a 0-0 draw) in the final, played at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia on Saturday.

The teams cancelled each other out through the 90 minutes, but the young Atlas Lions showed their class in the shootout, stylishly finished off by a ‘Panenka’ penalty from Ilies Belmokhtar to send the home supporters into raptures, as Morocco claimed their first-ever AFCON U-17 title.

After an evenly-matched opening quarter, Mali appeared to have claimed the lead via Soumaila Fane, who steered home a close-range effort from a right-flank cross, but VAR correctly ruled out the goal, as the Malian attacker had in fact used his hand to redirect the ball.

The closest Morocco came to a goal in the first half was via Ziyad Baha shortly before the interval, as he met a low cross from the right and fired an effort toward the bottom corner, but Mali goalkeeper Lamine Sinaba was equal to the task.

The West Africans were the stronger team early in the second half, with Seydou Dembele notably drawing a great save from Chouaib Bellaarouche in the 49th minute.

The Moroccan goalkeeper had a busy time through the remainder of the game, regularly getting involved to help out his defence against the attacking pressure built by Mali.

The match ended 0-0 and went to penalties, with Bellaarouche making two outstanding saves in the shootout to help his side win 4-2.

Morocco and Mali also join Burkina Faso, South Africa, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt and Uganda as qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar in November.


Morocco 0
Mali 0

Morocco won 4-2 on penalties

Morocco: C. Bellaarouche, H. Bouhaddi, N. El Massoudi (I. Hidaoui 89’), D. Ait Cheikh, M. Zekri, Z. El Khalfioui, A. Ouahabi, I. Belmokhtar, A. Ouzane I. El Aoud (A. Mouhoub 46’), Z. Baha

Mali: L. Sinaba, S. Doumbia, T. Berthe, A. Camara, M. Konate, M. Traore, I. Tounkara (Y. Fofana 85’), L. Keita, S. Dembele, N. Bomba, S. Fane (I. Kone 90+1’)

https://africanfootball.com///africanfo ... U-17-AFCON