Former Moroccan international Mehdi Benatia has credited the national team's recent achievements to a comprehensive youth development project.
He made the remarks in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport on June 29, 2026.
Benatia stated that the development system is the foundation for competing at the highest levels.
He specifically praised the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and the Mohammed VI Football Academy for their structural progress.
The academy has produced notable talents such as Azzedine Ounahi, Nayef Aguerd, and Youssef En-Nesyri. Benatia also highlighted emerging youngsters Ayoub Bouaddi and Abdellah Ait Boudlal.
Praise for Squad and Hakimi
While commending the squad's technical quality and tactical discipline, Benatia noted that improving offensive effectiveness remains crucial for major matches.
He lauded Achraf Hakimi as one of the best right-backs in history.
According to Benatia, Hakimi's offensive statistics surpass those of football legends Cafu and Maicon. He also expressed confidence in Brahim Diaz despite the player's recent challenging period.
Regarding the 2026 World Cup, Benatia voiced optimism about Morocco's prospects.
However, he criticized the expanded tournament format for increasing the number of matches and called for more affordable ticket prices for fans.
