Editorial – Starting again from a higher ground

In the end, Morocco did not win its second African star. The Atlas Lions failed to take the final step towards victory. But beyond the sporting aspects, this AFCON is far from being a failure. Yes, we lost the final, but we won in other areas. Morocco has shown that Africa has taken a step forward in terms of sports governance and that the country is ready to host major sporting events such as the 2030 World Cup.
Once the tension has subsided, it is important to remain clear-headed in order to properly assess this experience and avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The best way to learn from this AFCON is to avoid a binary interpretation of success/failure and, above all, to distinguish between circumstantial and structural factors. Sports results are inherently random and can be impacted by several factors and behaviors (sometimes unrelated to sports).
Today, Morocco must move from a culture of failure to one of learning. This will allow for adjustments to be made without causing harm. It also requires winning the battle of narrative, which, it must be said, we have lost. Morocco has been the victim of storytelling and a bashing strategy, because organizational success is not just a technical success; but above all a sign of power that is more disturbing than a one-off victory. This has triggered reflexes of interference and discrediting, because success challenges certain established hierarchies, attracts competition but also fear of marginalization. Success creates an uncomfortable mirror effect. For some, interference becomes a tool for managing competition. Because discrediting is less costly than catching up.
Today, a page has been turned. The challenge now is to learn from this experience without engaging in self-flagellation. And it would be a mistake to start from scratch when we can start from a higher ground.