His Majesty King Mohammed VI has granted a royal audience to Morocco’s women’s national football team, in a moment described as both historic and symbolic of the country’s rising commitment to women’s sport.
The special reception followed the Atlas Lionesses’ back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2022 and 2024, and their Round of 16 qualification at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Morocco’s first-ever appearance at the global tournament.
“The reception of the women’s national team by His Majesty marks a historic and deeply symbolic moment for national sports,” the Royal Court said, noting that it was not an isolated gesture, but part of a broader strategic vision to position Moroccan women at the heart of national progress.
The accolade underlines the growing reputation of Morocco as a continental force in women’s football, fuelled by what many see as a model programme championed by the King and implemented by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), led by its President, Fouzi Lekjaa.
Key to this transformation was a four-year strategic plan adopted by the FRMF in 2019, focusing on developing a structured national league system, with both first and second divisions, and the establishment of youth competitions for girls Under-15 and Under-17.
Additional efforts have included monthly financial and technical support to women’s clubs, the integration of girls’ football in regional academies, and the establishment of dedicated training centres. Partnerships with schools and increasing media visibility have also been central to this progress.
These deliberate policies have yielded impressive results. At the youth level, Morocco’s U17 and U20 teams have both qualified for successive FIFA Women’s World Cups, while the senior team has become a consistent finalist at the WAFCON.
On the continental club scene, Morocco is the only country to have had two different clubs reach the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League. AS FAR won the title in 2022 and were finalists in 2023, while Sporting Club Casablanca reached the final in their maiden campaign last year.
In April 2025, Morocco hosted and won the inaugural Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (WAFUTSAL), with standout performances from Doha El Madani, Jasmine Demraoui, and Najiati Idrisa, who were all recognised with individual awards.
The royal recognition of the national team reflects the success of this multi-tiered approach and signals Morocco’s ambition to entrench women’s football as a pillar of both sporting excellence and social inclusion.
In the words of the Royal Palace, the moment served as “a reminder that, in the Kingdom, sport is not only a driver of international influence but also a powerful tool for inclusion, dignity, and equality.”
