AS FAR FC coach reacts to CAF award nomination and impact on Moroccan football

The head coach of African champions, AS FAR FC’s Mohamed Amine Alioua says his nomination for the 2023 CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award isn’t about himself but attributed to the work of his players.

The coach was nominated alongside two other coaches from Morocco including SC Casablanca coach and the former Moroccan senior women’s national team coach, Reynald Pedros.

While being excited about the nomination, Alioua gave honours to his players and the team.

“Being nominated for the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year isn’t about me but about the girls,” Alioua told journalists during pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s CAF Women’s Champions League semi-final.

Women’s football in Morocco is thriving on all ends.

The national team reached the final of the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at home with a 2-1 loss to the winners, South Africa.

The first North African and Arab women’s national team to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup go to the Round of 16 at their maiden appearance of the World Cup this year.

AS FAR FC won the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2022.

For the first in the history of the CAF Women’s Champions League, two teams from Morocco qualified for the tournament and reached the semi-final.

Alioua is proud of the investment in women’s football in Morocco and wants other African countries to join the race to win the WAFCON title.

“Before I came into the team, the team was a team.” He continued. “We actually dominate and we want to have every masterpiece in the world that we have now.

“It is also a pleasure for me to be nominated as coach of the year 2023.

“Looking at the last Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) hosted at home, we have a very good season.

“For now, we have about five teams; Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Zambia, and Equatorial Guinea competing for top honours.

“We don’t want to be just these five teams but other teams to compete for the title at the highest level of women’s football in Africa which is the WAFCON.

“Other teams from Africa should be aware of this great team. I think there are a lot of prospects for women’s football and in Morocco we have had a lot of investment in that project.” He concluded.