Zineb Rechiche praises Morocco FA for work in women's football

Morocco’s rise has been striking. The Atlas Lionesses delivered a historic performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, reaching the knockout stages in their debut appearance. 

They also achieved back-to-back Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2022 and 2024, confirming Morocco’s emergence as a continental powerhouse.

In a conversation with SABC Sport, Rechiche highlighted the profound impact of the FRMF’s investment in infrastructure and development pathways for girls and women across the country.

“Morocco’s success on the global stage is the result of a clear national vision,” Rechiche explained. “The leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, with a strong focus on education, sport, international cooperation, and infrastructure, has positioned the country exactly where it is today.”

She further praised the strategic leadership of Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the FRMF:

“Under Mr. Lekjaa’s guidance, the Federation has truly empowered the women’s game, investing in world-class facilities, creating professional environments, and ensuring that female players have access to the same standards enjoyed by top men’s teams around the world. These choices are directly reflected in the results we are seeing today.

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A former midfielder, Rechiche’s playing career took her across several countries and major clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, and teams in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, and later the United Arab Emirates, where she concluded her career in 2023.

In 2023, she became the first Arab woman in the MENA region to obtain the FIFA Football Agent Licence, a milestone that bridges her dual experience in elite sport and corporate leadership.

Reflecting on the transition, she shared:

“When I began the licensing process, I never imagined I would be the first. It happened naturally. I spent twenty years as a player, but I also built a career in finance and the corporate world. So, remaining in football made sense — but from the business and strategic side rather than the technical or coaching path.

Rechiche holds a Trilingual Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, specialising in Market Finance, from HEC Montréal, as well as an honours diploma from ICADE – Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Spain.