Before participating in the 1970 World Cup, the participation of Raja Mohamed Abdellim’s star Alias ​​Bounini was of interest to the public at the time. At the Stade d’Honneur, the entire crowd started chanting: “Boinini Mexico, Bouinini Mexico” to get the officials’ attention.
In 1986, the “victims” again, this time, were Fakhreddin Raji alias Friq of Wydad, Abdurahim Hamraoui of Raja, as well as Dris Badidi of CODM in Meknes. Again, the public saw this as an injustice. “After the match against the Republic of Ireland, the public thought I had a place in the selection”, testifies Abdurrahim Hamraoui. “Except Mondial coincided with my exam date for my degree in economics. After my return from Mexico, I directed those responsible, especially the President of the FRMF, the late Dris Bamos, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdulatif Semalali, to intervene to postpone my exam dates. Unfortunately, they didn’t do anything and I preferred to pass my license that I got rather than be part of the trip. I have never regretted my decision, especially since football at that time did not guarantee our future,” he adds.
This is the case of Wydad’s Youssef Fertout and Lahsen Abrami, who released an anthology match at the 1994 World Cup, in the United States, in the final play-off match against Zambia. Both players were still rewarded by Wydaddys fans who raised money to stay in America to follow the World Cup.
In 1998, the public was in the same dilemma during the run-up to the World Cup. Missing from national coach Henry Michel’s list this time around are two of the best players of the era, Khalid Ragib of Setat Renaissance, Rajah’s Reda Riahi and Wydad’s Redoun Allali. Finally, during the last World Cup, Soufiane Boufal, then playing for Southampton, was the player Herve Renard “abandoned” at the last minute. For this partnership in Qatar, of course, he has a good chance of appearing in Walid Regragui’s list. A list that definitely has something to say to the public. The 23 seats in the election are limited and valuable…