The low-profile digital unit at the heart of national football teams’ performance

Under the spotlight during every international break, national teams also rely on the behind-the-scenes work of the digital unit of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to ensure their smooth operation throughout the year.

"This unit makes it possible to centralize information, provide support and facilitate decision-making within the national technical department," explains Sahid Dahbi, head of the FRMF’s digital unit.

From talent identification to performance analysis, the digital unit operates at several levels.

Identifying and monitoring talent

Nowadays, competition is fierce among national teams seeking to secure the commitment of the most talented players.

The FRMF has built a lead of several years thanks to a digital unit that centralizes the detection and monitoring of young talents from an early age. Without it, prospects such as Rayane Bounida might well have gone unnoticed by the technical department.

In addition to tracking domestic prospects, the FRMF’s digital unit ensures that information is relayed without delay.

With five scouts based in Europe, “FRMF scouts analyze matches and produce reports that are automatically integrated into the database, allowing continuous monitoring of players,” Dahbi points out.

Moreover, analysis tools such as Opta and Wyscout, along with other partner solutions used by the FRMF, make it possible to collect data on competitions worldwide.

“Based on specific criteria, it is possible to identify profiles that match the federation’s needs, particularly among young Moroccan talents,” he adds.

Performance analysis and data use

But that is not all. The FRMF’s digital unit is also the cornerstone of the analysis of Moroccan internationals’ performances through video.

“Match sequences are analyzed and then quantified using statistical data, in order to provide perspective and place performance analysis within a long-term monitoring framework,” says Dahbi.

In this context, a direct link is established with the senior team’s staff, who receive data in real time, at half-time or after the match, depending on their needs.

An integrated solution that also benefits several training centers affiliated with the youth development program launched by the FRMF and managed by EvoSport, a subsidiary of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).

“As part of the EvoSport program, automated cameras have been installed to analyze matches.” Players are also equipped with sensors to measure heart rate as well as GPS data.

“The rollout of equipment (cameras, GPS devices, software and hardware) is underway and will cover all structures involved in the EvoSport program by the 2026-2027 season.”

MyTeam at the core of the system

“All this data is centralized on a platform called MyTeam,” Dahbi explains. The aim is to provide a 360° view of each player in one place, by leveraging data from different departments:

• medical;
• administrative;
• technical;
• video analysis.

It also helps facilitate rapid decision-making. In addition, this fully Moroccan solution makes it possible to plan training sessions. “It is available free of charge to any club that requests it,” Dahbi concludes.