Two weeks after Abdeslam Ouaddou criticized the lack of diversity among coaches in France, the French Football Federation has finally broken its silence. It rejects any selection based on origins and explains why the Franco-Moroccan coach was turned down twice for the BEPF.
Rejected twice by France’s highest-level coaching qualification, Abdeslam Ouaddou continued his career on the African continent . The French-Moroccan has just won a historic treble with Orlando Pirates and been voted the best coach in the South African league.
As a new major showdown against Morocco approaches, memories of 2010 resurface in discussions about the French team. That year, the Blues did more than just fail their World Cup. They experienced one of the most serious internal crises in their history .
Ayyoub Bouaddi is making an impact with Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, but his choice continues to spark debate in France. The technical director of the French Football Federation acknowledges that the young midfielder’s departure to the Atlas Lions represents a significant loss.
As the month of Ramadan is about to begin, the management of fasting is widening the gap between the two countries. France maintains a controversial hard line in the name of neutrality, while England officially reinstates its mid-match breaks.