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Veteran Sports Journalist, KUNLE SOLAJA
When Kunle Solaja first saw Morocco’s players arrive at their training complex, he was struck not just by the skill on the pitch but by the order and precision off it. He had covered nine FIFA World Cups, from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022, and witnessed countless national teams preparing for glory. Yet Morocco felt different. “I thought: this is what it takes to build a football nation,” he said, smiling. “Not talent alone, not passion, but systems, infrastructure and a plan that everyone believes in.”
Solaja has spent more than three decades chronicling football. He was the only Nigerian journalist at Italia ’90, the tournament where Maradona’s magic mesmerized the world. “I screamed the first time I saw him play,” he recalled. Over the years, he has interviewed global icons, reported from prestigious stadiums, and followed football’s rise and fall across continents. His insights are not from theory but from experience, and Morocco’s story, he insists, is one every Nigerian must understand.
In Salé, Morocco, he visited the Mohammed VI Football Academy, a sprawling institution where young players live, train and study under one roof. “The academy is a miniature football city,” Solaja explained. “Everything is structured: education, accommodation, nutrition, medical support and coaching. The players don’t just train, they live football in an environment designed to make them champions.”
He then saw the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmoura, an ultra-modern high-performance centre with multiple pitches, analysis rooms, recovery pools, gyms, lodging and science-driven facilities for U17, U20, U23 and senior national teams. “It’s not a stadium to play matches in, it’s a factory for producing excellence,” he said. “This is where national identity is forged, where players learn teamwork, discipline and professionalism before they even step on the world stage.”
Morocco’s rise did not happen overnight. It was deliberate, driven by long-term planning and strong political backing. King Mohammed VI has personally championed the project, investing heavily in infrastructure and youth development. “Their success is not symbolic,” Solaja explained. “The King and the Crown Prince provided funding, vision and stability. They made football a national priority, and that changed everything.”
Morocco’s achievements are tangible. In 2022, they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup. Their domestic league gained strength, clubs earned significant FIFA revenues, and youth programmes started producing world-class talent consistently. “Every achievement you see on the pitch is rooted in years of preparation,” Solaja noted. “The players’ cohesion, tactical awareness and professionalism are products of their environment, not luck.”
He contrasts that with Nigeria, where he has seen repeated failures in preparation. “Our Super Eagles often assemble late, live in different hotels, have inadequate recovery facilities and experience constant changes in coaching and administration,” he said. “Nigeria has more talent than Morocco, but talent without structure will always fall short.”
For Nigeria to reach Morocco’s level, Solaja believes several things must change. First, the Nigeria Football Federation must develop a national football master plan with clear goals, timelines and accountability. Morocco’s roadmap spans youth development, infrastructure, coaching, league reform and international exposure. “If Nigeria truly desires to be a global football powerhouse, it must go back to the foundation,” Solaja said on a recent TV broadcast.
Second, the country needs regional academies linked to schools, so young players can be identified and nurtured locally before moving to national centres. “Morocco doesn’t wait for players to be discovered abroad,” he said. “They go out to find them at home. Nigeria must adopt the same proactive approach.”
Third, the domestic league must be professionalised and commercialised. Strong clubs and competitive leagues feed talent into national teams, creating continuity and depth. “Dreams do not win trophies. Systems do,” Solaja said.
Fourth, Nigeria must integrate diaspora players strategically while maintaining homegrown talent. Morocco’s success stems from blending the two seamlessly, ensuring all players understand the national philosophy. “It’s not enough to call up a player because of heritage,” he warned. “They must be part of a system.”
Finally, football must be treated as national infrastructure. Long-term funding, political stability and leadership continuity are essential. Morocco achieved this through royal backing, and Solaja sees it as the missing ingredient in Nigeria. “Morocco succeeded because someone at the top said: we will build and we will finish what we build,” he said.
He recalled reporting from Morocco during the Qatar World Cup and observing the team’s preparation. “The players were calm, organised and cohesive,” he said. “They were living in a world-class environment where every detail, from nutrition to recovery to tactical training, was managed. Nigeria must replicate this model if we want consistent success.”
Solaja emphasised that Morocco’s model is not just about infrastructure but about culture. Players, coaches and administrators share a common philosophy; youth teams feed seamlessly into senior teams; clubs and national teams operate in synergy. “This is why Morocco consistently produces talent,” he explained. “They understand that success is built layer by layer.”
He also highlighted Morocco’s achievements off the pitch. Clubs participate successfully in continental competitions, youth programmes regularly win international tournaments, and football revenues contribute to the economy. “They are winning in prestige, infrastructure and finances,” he said. “Nigeria remains a footballing giant in name only because we haven’t institutionalised our talent.”
Solaja concluded with a challenge to Nigeria. “Morocco should not just inspire us, it should wake us up,” he said. “We have talent, history and passion. What we lack is discipline, infrastructure and strategic vision. If we act now, build regional academies, establish a national training complex, professionalise our league, secure long-term funding, and integrate homegrown and diaspora talent, we can move from potential to performance.”
He smiled and added, “I’ve seen nations rise. I’ve reported from World Cups around the world. Morocco proves that African football can compete at the highest level if we are willing to plan, invest and execute. Nigeria has everything it needs to follow that path. The question is, do we have the courage to walk it?”
By Benprince Ezeh
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