Two gala matches were held on Sunday evening at the Marrakech Stadium, just a few hours before the opening of the 2023 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WB) scheduled for October 09-15.
Organized by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), the two 30-minute friendly matches pitted a host of former players (both men and women) against two mixed teams of WB and IMF executives.
The event was attended by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, Wali of Bank Al Maghrib (Central Bank/BAM), Abdellatif Jouahri, and Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah.
This highly symbolic sporting event also brought together Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, FRMF’s president, and Chairman of the « 2030 World Cup Committee, » Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and the coach of the National Team, Walid Regragui.
This footballing event took place in a festive and convivial atmosphere, to the applause of over 1,000 pupils from the province of Al Haouz, who were relocated from the earthquake-affected areas to Marrakech, where they will continue their studies in several of the city’s schools.
It further exemplifies the return to normal life in the city of Marrakech and in the areas affected by the earthquake, thanks to the High Solicitude of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the special interest that the Sovereign continually shows in his citizens.
