Interview with Mounir Rahmani
We spoke with Mr. Mounir Rahmani, a scout for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation in Scandinavia. Mr. Rahmani is an expert in scouting, sports management, and sports marketing.
In this interview, he shares insights on his role in discovering talent, the impact of Osame Sahraoui's (LOSC Lille player) decision to represent the Kingdom of Morocco, and his vision for the future of Moroccan football in 2030.
Osame Sahraoui and Mounir Rahmani (on the right), with Brian Deane, former English international striker.
1. Some people believe that a scout's job is easy and requires little effort. How would you respond to this perception?
People often think being a scout is easy, but they don't realize how much it involves, especially as a scout for Morocco's federation. Scouting isn't for everyone. Anyone can watch football, but not everyone has the eye to spot talent—the details, personality, background, and everything else. It's more than just playing football. Psychology is 70% of it: how a player handles emotions, tough periods, winning, losing, working with teammates under pressure…
It takes years of experience and a special gift—something your eyes and senses just pick up. Scouting means following players over a long period to get the full picture of their strengths, weaknesses (because no one's perfect), and overall potential. We look for the "X factor," not perfection—something unique that stands out. Sometimes, you even see a striker who could become a great midfielder or a winger who could succeed as a fullback.
Scouting is about detailed observation, understanding not just the player but how they compare globally. For instance, players from Scandinavia are physical and mentally tough, hardworking, and reliable, while others might excel in technique, first touch, or decision-making. Knowing these differences by country and region is key to finding and developing talent for higher levels.
2. Osame Sahraoui accepted the opportunity to play for the national team despite the presence of very good players in his position. Would you say this was a decision driven by his love for Morocco, and how do you view his readiness to embrace the competition?
I've followed Osame Sahraoui since he was 14 or 15, back when he played in Vålerenga. Even then, his talent stood out: great first touch, game understanding, and technical ability. Despite concerns about his height and physique in Norway at the time, I could see he was special. He just needed patience and the right coach to believe in him, which happened in 2019 when a new coach gave him his breakthrough.
We talked about him representing Morocco as early as 2017 or 2018, and he was immediately honored by the idea. His first selection came in 2019 with coach Zakaria Aboub for the Moroccan U20 national team. Later, he was called up again to participate in a tournament in Egypt. Unfortunately, due to a passport issue, he couldn't travel and missed out.
Challenges like a passport issue and COVID disrupted his participation in Moroccan camps. During that time, he chose to play for Norway, but we kept in touch. He saw how Morocco was evolving—better facilities, a stronger project—and eventually decided to commit to his roots.
Norway has given him a lot—you can love two countries—but at the end of the day, it's about your values and what resonates most with you. No one convinced him; it was his own decision, driven by his love for Morocco, his family background, and his values.
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He understands the competition for his position, but that's where his greatest strength lies: his mentality. Osame has a rare confidence and resilience. Everywhere he's been, he's embraced the challenge, believing in his abilities to take on anyone. Alongside his technical skills and game intelligence, his mental strength makes him stand out.
He's happy with his decision and proud to represent Morocco, a choice from the heart, despite all that Norway offered him.
3. Do you think Sahraoui's choice to represent the Atlas Lions could pave the way for Moroccan national teams to discover and benefit more from talents in Scandinavia?
Osame Sahraoui is already a big inspiration for Moroccan players in Scandinavia who dream of representing the Atlas Lions, Inshallah. He's the first Scandinavian-based player to progress through the Moroccan national teams from youth to the senior level. This achievement will undoubtedly open doors for others in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and even Iceland.
His success shows that times have changed. Previously, many talented Moroccan or Scandinavian-Moroccan players went unnoticed due to a lack of scouting and follow-up. Now, with players like Osame paving the way, others can see that opportunities exist and that someone is watching their progress.
Osame serves as a role model, both mentally and technically, inspiring young players and giving them hope. I believe a strong new generation is emerging, and it will be exciting to see what's next for Moroccan football.
Osama Sahraoui celebrating with the Moroccan community in Norway after the Moroccan national team's victories in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
4. How do you envision the Kingdom of Morocco by 2030?
By 2030, I envision the Kingdom of Morocco as a major force in global football. The progress in all categories has been remarkable, thanks to the leadership of President Fouzi Lekjaa and the efforts of the Moroccan Football Federation. They've made everything more structured and efficient, ensuring Morocco is firmly placed on the world football map.
The nation's reputation in football has grown immensely, and Morocco can now compete in every position and category. With top players who possess not only exceptional skill but also strong personalities, Morocco is earning respect and pride in the football world.
The future has never been this bright. There's depth in every position, with intense competition for places—whether it's left wingers, offensive midfielders, defenders, or even goalkeepers. The upcoming Africa Cup of Nations will be a crucial step in building a team that blends youth and experience, paving the way for a strong showing at the 2030 World Cup.
I wouldn't be surprised if Morocco is among the favorites for the 2030 tournament. The collective effort, talent pool, and vision are all in place for a successful future.
