Rabat – Fouzia Madhouni, Moroccan player of American football and founder of “We Can Morocco,” was chosen for the espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program for this fall, according to a media note from the US Department of State.
Madhouni, who is the first African professional player in women’s American football, will be mentored by three individuals who are heavily involved in the world of professional football.
Her mentors will be Vice President of Club Marketing at the NFL Taryn Hutt, Vice President of Human Resources at the Green Bay Packers Nicole Ledvina, and Human Resources Manager at the Green Bay Packers Chris Cohorst.
The mentorship program aims to support the Moroccan player’s development of an action plan for girls and women’s empowerment through sports.
Falling as part of US sports diplomacy, the program also seeks to provide Madhouni and her youth football academy “We Can Morocco” with the required support for the promotion of women’s American football in Morocco.
Born and raised in Sale, Madhouni grew up in a tough environment. Faced with poverty and gender discrimination, the Moroccan athlete was determined to challenge social expectations and write her own story.
“The girls in the city that I am in are expected to be average, to have a minimum of education in order to help the kids that they will be bringing to life,” Madhouni said in an interview with NFL 360. “They think this is their ultimate mission.”
“Parents here have never accepted that their daughters play sports,” Madhouni’s mother told NFL 360. “Whenever they saw her playing outside, they came to me complaining that I can’t control my own daughter.”
Scrolling through social media, Medhouni one day found a post of her friend wearing an American football helmet. Driven by her curiosity, she asked her friend if she could join the training sessions. However, the sessions were quickly disrupted by male players who dominate the sports scene.
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Feeling angry and upset with the situation, Madhouni decided to start a women’s team despite the lack of resources.
“We didn’t have any equipment. We didn’t have balls. We started playing on the beach. It was a really really hard time. It was a real struggle,” she told NFL 360.
In spite of the lack of support from her family, who went as far as to question her sanity, Madhouni was determined to push for her dream.
However, “everything stopped” when she was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
Trying to stay hopeful, the Moroccan athlete dismissed cancer as a “phase,” losing her ability to walk and undergoing chemotherapy while still maintaining a dream of creating her own academy.
In 2021, she returned to the field and founded “We Can Morocco” to give hope and opportunities to young Moroccan girls. A year later, the NFL recognized her efforts and invited her to the world-famous annual Super Bowl match.
Determined to advance American football in Morocco as a rising female coach, the Moroccan athlete says that she is doing this for her team and family.
“I am doing this for three people, my mom, …the girls in the academy, …and the younger version of me,” Madhouni stated, adding: “I am gonna make that girl proud.”
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