But the highlight of this edition remains the vibrant tribute that the president of the organising club, Mohammed Mehdi, wishes to pay to one of the emblematic figures of the city of Oujda, the late "Abdelkader Lachhab", a man of knowledge, respected by all, a fine diplomat and an accomplished intellectual.
The journey of the late man, who died at the age of 70 following a long illness, is certainly among the most atypical and inspiring in Moroccan and African football.
The journey of the late man, who died at the age of 70 following a long illness, is certainly among the most atypical and inspiring in Moroccan and African football.
His studies before football!
Born in Oujda, Lachhab wore the colours of USMO and MCO, before joining Wydad Casablanca, with whom he would experience the peak of his career.
Scoring 23 goals, he led WAC to the title in 1975-1976.
Moreover, your favourite daily "L’Opinion-Sports" had revealed the day after his death that the national technical director at the time, the late Colonel Mehdi Belmejdoub, had done everything to convince him to participate in the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia, even dangling the status of a headliner. In vain.
And to add that Lachhab, then 21 years old, had politely refused by explaining that he was pursuing higher studies in Political Science in parallel with his football career and that participating in the AFCON would jeopardise the success of his exams.
A decision that Belmejdoub, although annoyed, understood and accepted.
If the deceased therefore missed the coronation at the AFCON, the only one in the history of the Atlas Lions, it is not certain that he felt any regrets about it.
Subsequently, he led a brilliant career as a diplomat which led him to be Morocco's ambassador to Canada, Japan and Russia, at the time of the 2018 World Cup. On site, he had facilitated the organisation of the Atlas Lions ahead of the tournament.
So, it is an amply deserved tribute to remember the virtues of the deceased, known for his high moral qualities and his unwavering attachment to the values of sincere patriotism, which he demonstrated with dedication and self-sacrifice.
Well done gentlemen of Oujda, very good festival and may the late man rest in peace.
