Morocco’s rise was no accident and Yannick Ferreira is “a weak coach” – Mohamed El-Yamani

Mohamed El-Yamani, a former star of Egypt’s youth team, offered a candid interview reflecting on Egypt’s slide in youth football and Morocco’s impressive ascent on the global stage.

El-Yamani, who dazzled at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship before a fateful car accident changed his career path, now works in youth development.

He criticized Egypt’s system, saying, “Egyptian football has clear, catastrophic problems at the youth level. The commercialization of youth academies and selling them to investors mean real talent is often overlooked.” He praised Morocco’s long-term investments and the success of projects like the Mohammed VI Academy, noting, “Morocco’s success is not by chance. It is the fruit of years of planning, structure and proper talent nurturing.”

Addressing Egypt’s early World Cup youth exit, he blamed poor planning and questionable coach selections. When asked about Zamalek manager Yannick Ferreira, he said bluntly, “I never heard of this coach when I played in Belgium. I think he is weak, without a real imprint, and the recent losses prove it.”

El-Yamani remains optimistic, believing that robust national projects can restore Egypt’s reputation and push more young talents to international stardom.