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Qatar 2022“He is a person who manages to get the best out of everyone”
Lancy coach Samir Boughanem played with Moroccan coach Walid Regragui. Born in France, he projects himself on the semi-final France – Morocco this Wednesday evening.
Samir Boughanem, here in the jersey of Servette.
Eric Lafargue/LPS
He is Moroccan. He was born in France, near Geneva (Ambilly). He spent most of his career in Switzerland. At Étoile Carouge, Xamax, Meyrin and Servette in particular. Samir Boughanem has been the coach of FC Lancy (2nd interregional league) since last April.
As a Moroccan born in France, he appeared to be the ideal person to discuss the France – Morocco semi-final on Wednesday evening. But the discussion took another turn when he told us that he had played with current Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
“I have the memory of a few international matches with him, explains Boughanem. I have 12 selections with Morocco, and as we are of the same generation, we therefore rubbed shoulders.
A photo of the Morocco team ahead of a 2003 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone. Samir Boughanem has number 17 (3rd top from left), Walid Regruagi 2 (bottom right).
DR
Boughanem does not hesitate to give his opinion on the successful coach of the Moroccan team. “He is a very humble person, passionate about football. Walid has real values, and he managed to transmit them to his players. He is a person who manages to get the best out of everyone. He did not hesitate to meet all the team’s executives before the World Cup. He has had little time to build his team, as he was only appointed three months ago. But obviously, his message got through.
“If a coach manages to make a player like Ziech understand that he has to play for the nation, then anything goes.”
And he, Samir Boughanem, what does he think of his Moroccan team? “They are ready to die on the pitch. For the country, for the nation. There are necessarily political ideas behind all this, but if a coach manages to make a player like Ziech understand that he must play for the nation, then anything goes. We must not forget that the Moroccan people are very attached to their religion. Suddenly, the Arab world and the African continent are attached to him before this semi-final.
And how does Boughanem explain this exceptional first world semi-final of an African selection? “I will start by saying that there is a huge training effort in Morocco, and obviously, it is bearing fruit. Now, you never know when it will come. I thought it was going to come out once, but I didn’t know when. Obviously it is now. It’s no surprise: Morocco currently have their best team ever.”
In Morocco for the 8th final
Samir Boughanem went to follow the victorious round of 16 (0-0 aet, 3-0 on penalties) against Spain at home. “It’s true, my wife and I thought we could go back and forth. We have family in Tangier. It was madness. I was able to get closer to this Moroccan heat on this occasion. It was exceptional.”
But between his country of origin, Morocco, and his country of birth, France, his heart swings despite everything. “I am Moroccan, I wore the Moroccan jersey, so it is obvious that I want a feat from Morocco this Wednesday evening against the Blues. But I will never forget what France did for me. And in my life, before tonight’s semi-final, I have always supported France. And Switzerland, too! My children are Swiss, I am not. Or not yet…”
But he concludes: “After the penalty shoot-out victory against Spain, I said to all my Swiss friends: Morocco will avenge you!” It won’t console Shaqiri and his teammates, but in any case, Morocco did it.
What about African coaches?
Samir Boughanem passed his UEFA A diploma. He started with junior training at Lancy, before being given responsibility for the club’s first team. And there are questions about the fate of Arab or African coaches. “How many have coached big teams in Europe? The answer is simple: none!
But Boughanem wants to believe that things will change: “Walid Regragui has succeeded in highlighting African coaches. He showed that they were just as capable as the Europeans of being able to lead a team. Morocco’s results at this World Cup have therefore opened doors. And I’m happy about that.” /RTY