Fouzi Lekjaa, a distinguished determine in African and worldwide soccer administration, has been elected First Vice President of the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF), following an govt committee assembly held in Accra on Saturday.
The 54-year-old Moroccan official’s elevation is predicted to be extensively welcomed throughout the continent, the place his monitor report of strengthening soccer infrastructure has earned broad respect.
His rising affect has led some African soccer insiders to view him as a possible successor to present CAF President Patrice Motsepe of South Africa. Motsepe, 63, a billionaire businessman, was not too long ago re-elected unopposed for a second four-year time period.
Underneath CAF’s present statutes, a president could serve a most of three phrases, a reform launched after Issa Hayatou’s 29-year tenure resulted in 2017.
Saturday’s elections additionally introduced new faces to CAF’s vice-presidential ranks, with Ghana’s Kurt Okraku, Gabon’s Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, Congo’s Bestine Ditabala, and Mozambique’s Feizal Sidat securing appointments. Notably, Cameroon soccer legend Samuel Eto’o, not too long ago elected to the CAF Government Committee, failed in his bid for a vice-presidential publish.
As African soccer appears to be like towards internet hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, a mission Lekjaa is deeply concerned in by means of Morocco’s joint bid with Spain and Portugal, his ascent inside CAF could sign a brand new period of strategic management from North Africa.
Fouzi Lekji’s early days
Fouzi Lekjaa is a Moroccan sports activities govt and public official specializing in soccer administration. He graduated in agricultural engineering from the Nationwide School of Administration and commenced his skilled profession as a monetary inspector.
In 2000, he was appointed head of the agricultural sector and compensation division on the Finances Division of the Ministry of Finance.
In the identical yr, Lekjaa grew to become concerned with RS Berkane, then an newbie membership in Morocco’s third division, contributing to its infrastructure improvement and organizational reform.
In 2009, he was elected president of RS Berkane. Underneath his management, the membership achieved monetary stability, attracted new sponsors, and secured promotion to Morocco’s top-tier league, Botola Professional, after an absence of greater than twenty years.
On 13 April 2014, Lekjaa was elected president of the Royal Moroccan Soccer Federation (FRMF), succeeding Ali Fassi Fihri. His tenure has targeted on modernizing Moroccan soccer, growing the nation’s league system, and investing closely in youth applications.
One of many main tasks beneath his management was the development of the Mohammed VI Soccer Advanced in Salé, a $65 million facility inaugurated in 2019 to assist the event of younger gamers.
Profession
In 2022, Lekjaa was reelected as FRMF president for a 3rd time period. Throughout his management, Morocco efficiently bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which was formally introduced by the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) in September 2023.
- Internationally, Lekjaa has held a number of roles, together with serving because the second vice-president of CAF and chairman of its Finance Committee. He was elected to the FIFA Council in March 2021 and joined the Government Council of the Union of Arab Soccer Associations in June 2021.
- Lekjaa was additionally concerned in addressing points associated to ticket gross sales in the course of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, overseeing an investigation that led to authorized motion towards people suspected of fraud.
- In June 2023, King Mohammed VI appointed him president of Morocco’s Bid Committee for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
In October 2023, the joint Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid was formally accepted by FIFA as a candidate to host the match. Subsequently, Lekjaa was named Chairman of the 2030 World Cup Committee by royal appointment.
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