The 20-year-old player, Faten Ben Amar El Azizi, has died after reportedly drowning while trying to swim into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. She was one of tens of thousands of Moroccans, estimated at between 40,000 and over 60,000, who crossed into Ceuta in a mass surge last Thursday, with many swimming around the border barriers. Her club, Maghreb Atlético Tetuán, where she competed in the regional championship, confirmed the tragedy.
In a heartfelt statement, the club said her dream "ended before it even began". They added that Faten "was not seeking fame or adventure, but a better life and a future she believed awaited her on the other side of the border". The club went on to say she had hoped to open "a new door" for her future, yet "the sea was more powerful than her dreams".
Football community mourns
The Moroccan Union of Professional Footballers expressed profound sympathy to her family, teammates and the wider football community. Its president, Mustapha El Hadaoui, and members offered their condolences, remembering Faten's dedication and sporting spirit.
Faten came from a family connected to local football, with a cousin who played professionally. Her story has resonated deeply within Moroccan women's football, where she was regarded as a promising talent with a bright future.
Part of a wider crisis
Spanish authorities reported 72 fatalities from the broader crisis, while Moroccan officials later confirmed 11 deaths on their side, mostly from drowning. The crossing between Fnideq and the Spanish enclave was made more dangerous by strong currents, leaving some unable to reach the shore or be rescued, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Family's grief and unanswered questions
Faten's family has stated that her Schengen visa was approved by the Spanish consulate in Tangier on the same day she died. Her mother said shortly before the funeral in Tetouan: "The youth are lost, they are all going to kill themselves. Why? Who opened the door the first time? Why did they open it so that our children would be killed?"
The mother also criticised local economic conditions and restrictions, saying the family situation was difficult and that Faten had worked in a cemetery from a young age.
