CAN U17: Morocco-Senegal, the final of two training models

Morocco's Zakaria Ouazane (left) and Senegal's Amara Diouf lead their national team. (Illustration). © Courtesy of CAF (RFI Editing)

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

3 min

The final of the U17 CAN will oppose this Friday, May 19 at 21h UT Morocco and Senegal. A meeting that symbolizes the stranglehold of these two nations on African football who have set the training as a model.

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There is a kind of logic to see Morocco and Senegal in the final of the U17 CAN as these two countries are at the heart of the greatest feats of African football in recent years. The historic semi-final against Atlas Lions France at the 2022 World Cup is still fresh in the memories, as is the Wydad club's coronation in the Champions League less than a year ago. Moroccan football can also rejoice in the first qualification of its women's selection to the 2023 World Cup. Senegal, on the other hand, has been enjoying a prosperous period since the victory at the CAN 2022 of the A team. Then there was the Chan in Algeria, then the U20 CAN in Egypt.

Nasser Larguet: "Not a surprise

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These results remain the result of a policy that has been pursued for some time in both countries. "The presence of the Moroccan team in the final at the U17 CAN is anything but a surprise," said Nasser Larguet. It is a work started since 2007 and the implementation of development strategies and objectives in accordance with the vision of His Majesty."

Former director of the training centers of Olympique de Marseille and Stade Malherbe in Caen, Larguet supervised the construction of the Mohamed VI Academy in Rabat, which has now become the flagship of training in Morocco. "We had created structures in Marrakech, Tangier and Casablanca, with local educators who supervised children from 9 to 12 years old. We recruited in neighborhood tournaments, league championships or in school sports, "says the one who is now the National Technical Director of Saudi Arabia.

Morocco's journey to their first-ever #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 final has been remarkable 👏

Take a look at how the Atlas Lions have made it 📺 @EnMaroc pic.twitter.com/ptFr1csbAl

— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 (@CAF_Online) May 17, 2023 🏆

In Senegal, the revolution began twenty years ago with the creation of two training centers, Diambars and Génération Foot, which have become locomotives of youth football. It is therefore not surprising to find seven residents of Generation Foot and six of Diambars in the selection of U17 years in this CAN.

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It's just the result of a lot of work, says Talla Fall, founding member of Génération foot, now director of communication and marketing at the centre. We have qualified coaches who take care of the youngsters, an environment that allows us to combine football and studies. Everything is studied, from dietetics to sleep, everything is put in place so that our young players can flourish. »

1200 football schools in Senegal

But for a result at all levels, the creation and development of training centers were accompanied by the "structuring of the DTN", explains Nasser Larguet. "There is also training and follow-up for coaches, support for clubs and regional leagues and a development strategy." All this must pass through good hands. Larguet quotes Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and Hervé Renard, coach of Morocco from 2016 to 2019. The arrival of Walid Regragui at the head of the Atlas Lions in 2022, materialized all this work done upstream.

For the Lions of Teranga, the first turning point was undoubtedly the creation of the Aldo Gentina Center in 1992, which produced Lions of the 2002 Generation such as Tony Sylva, Salif Diao, Moussa Ndiaye, Souleymane Camara. Today, the country has 1200 football schools and thousands of potential Sadio Mané. "You can't be good at high-level football if you don't sow the right seed, if you don't let it grow and germinate," said Mbaye Diouf Dia, vice-president of the Senegalese Football Federation.

Morocco and Senegal continue to reap their fruits and the harvest seems far from over.

New continental competition. New final Relive how undefeated Senegal reached the 2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 final

📺 🦁 pic.twitter.com/eLki7B0LNE

— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 2023 (@CAF_Online) May 17, 2023 🏆

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  • CAN
  • Senegal
  • Morocco