Pirates coach reveals why South African football ranks among the best in Africa

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is impressed by the progress made by South Africa so far in improving the level of the country’s football.

Ouaddou has seen his country Morocco and Amajita book a place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U20 World Cup while in his time in South Africa, he has witnessed the increased levels of the senior national team as well as the league.

The tactician has been left in awe of the strong foundations laid by South Africa and feels it just a matter of time before they start reaping dividends with some of it already paying off.

“I can say that there’s some countries in the continent that make me proud, of course my country, South Africa, makes me proud and some others as well, because I think they understand the evolution of football,” Ouaddou as quoted by iDiski Times.

What impresses Ouaddou about SA football?

“They understand the development of youth is a very essential matter for the country… as long as we think about our youth and think about the competences and potential to our continent and add qualified coaches around them, good infrastructure around this youth, with a sport policy, project and long-term vision we know that definitely we can have results.

“It’s what Morocco is doing, it’s what South Africa is doing, Senegal, Ivory Coast and I have big hope that in future, if we continue like this with a big vision for our continent, then in a few years we can definitely win a World Cup.”

Ouaddou will be watching keenly as Amajita take on Colombia on Wednesday night before Morocco play South Korea on Friday at the U20 World Cup, the same day Bafana Bafana clash with Zimbabwe in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.