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Rabat – Ilyas Touba Nasri, a Belgian-Moroccan football freestyler and six-time world champion in Panna, has opened up about his experience representing Morocco in the Kings League.
In an interview with Morocco World News, the world’s best Panna player shared his pride and challenges during the competition and the lessons he hopes to pass on to the next generation
Representing Morocco, a dream come true
For Ilyas, playing for the Moroccan team in the Kings League was a dream come true. “It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life,” he said. “I represented my country Morocco, playing for the flag. It’s a big responsibility, and it was just a very good experience.”
Ilyas stressed the unique significance of playing alongside Moroccan football legends such as Mbarek Bousoufa and Zakaria Hadraf. “It was an honor for me to be there, and I’m so thankful,” he added.
The Kings League competition was not without its challenges. Despite the Moroccan team’s strong performance, Ilyas felt disappointed by the outcome of their semi-final match. “Very, very sad because of the decision of the referee. Because of him, we didn’t get to the final,” he shared.
Ilyas believed the team had what it took to win the competition, including defeating Brazil, who eventually won the title after defeating Colombia 6-0 in the final earlier this month. “If it was another referee, I can guarantee everyone that we would win the match, 100%,” he said.
The Moroccan squad was eliminated after sustaining a 2-1 defeat to Colombia on January 10.
Still, Ilyas is proud of what the team accomplished, saying that the team produced a strong performance given that it was their first participation in the competition. “It was the first time we played together, and we made it to the semi-finals. That’s crazy,” he told MWN.
Another challenge the Kings League presented for the Moroccan team was the seven-a-side format that differs from traditional football. “It’s another type of football with new rules … even if you lose the match by four or five goals, you can come back because, in the last two minutes, a goal counts as two,” he further explained.
Touba credited Boussoufa for stepping in as captain after the first match, which he said helped the team adjust quickly.
“After the first match, we understood everything and got more comfortable playing that type of football … Moroccans learn very fast,” he said.
“We did an amazing job. I’m so proud of the team. All of Morocco is proud of us and that makes me more proud,” Touba added.
A Message to the youth
As a six-time world champion in Panna, Ilyas reflected on the hard work and struggles it took to reach the top. “It’s not from nothing. It’s a lot of training, motivation, and dedication to yourself,” he said.
Panna is a type of freestyle football or street football that focuses on skill, creativity, and technique.
Touba hopes to inspire young players to believe in themselves and work hard for their dreams. “Nothing is impossible, believe me. If you have that mindset, you will get to where you want to be.”
He recalled his humble beginning in his hometown, where he first became a Panna champion. Touba went on to become the champion of Belgium, then Europe, and eventually a six-time world champion.
He noted the importance of choosing the right friends and acquaintances, and staying focused on education and self development. “Like I said before, one step backward is two steps forward. Take always the positive in every situation even in the bad situations, because at the end you can’t change it,” he advised.
Ilyas ended with expressing his heartfelt gratitude to Morocco and its people, particularly for their unwavering support during the competition.
