Olympique Lyonnais to expand in Morocco through partnership with Ittihad Tanger

Sunday 09 November 2025 - 11:30

By: Sahili Aya

Olympique Lyonnais to expand in Morocco through partnership with Ittihad Tanger

French football club Olympique Lyonnais (OL) is set to strengthen its international presence through a new partnership with Ittihad Tanger in Morocco. The three-year agreement will focus on youth development, technical exchanges, and talent scouting, reinforcing OL’s commitment to expanding its influence across Africa.

After a decade-long collaboration with Senegal’s Dakar Sacré-Cœur, OL has chosen Morocco, a country experiencing a football boom ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host.

Ittihad Tanger, a historic northern Moroccan club, offers modern training facilities and a renovated stadium, Ibn Battouta Stadium, prepared for major international competitions. Under the agreement, OL will utilize these facilities for training camps, technical programs, and identifying emerging talent.

Matthieu Louis-Jean, OL’s technical director, has been monitoring the project for nearly two years, viewing Tanger as a strategic gateway to Morocco and Africa. “The potential is immense, both on sporting and human levels. Morocco is experiencing a unique period in its football history,” said a source close to the project.

The partnership will allow young Moroccan and African players to develop their skills and potentially compete in Botola Pro, Morocco’s top league, providing an experience more competitive than France’s National 3. This collaboration aims to serve as a stepping stone toward European football while boosting the local league’s profile.

The OL-Ittihad Tanger agreement is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, marking a significant milestone in Franco-Moroccan football cooperation.