At 19, the boxer from Fez is overcoming her injuries to return to the ring.
The resilience of the country’s athletes in the face of physical challenges illustrates the strength of character that drives the Kingdom’s sporting youth. Introduced to the noble art at the age of six at a club in Fez, encouraged by her father and grandfather, Safaa Zoubaa forged a career from an early age, driven by iron discipline. After many years of training devoted to perfecting her technique and physical fitness whilst waiting to reach the minimum age of seventeen to compete in official competitions, the young boxer has transformed the ring into a true space for personal fulfilment. In 2024, on her very first appearance in the lightweight division, she clinched the Fez-Meknes regional title before going on to win the Moroccan Junior Championship despite running a fever during the final, thereby earning a place in the national team and securing her place at the World Youth Championships held in Montenegro.
Rigorous rehabilitation to overcome successive injuries
The young international’s promising rise was, however, hampered by a series of physical setbacks that put her determination to the test. A finalist in the national championship in 2025 following her second regional title, the boxer was forced to withdraw due to an elbow injury, before suffering a torn ligament in her foot this year during the quarter-finals of the regional competition. Having undergone successful surgery last August – having previously overcome a broken hand and an eye injury – the nineteen-year-old athlete is now following a demanding rehabilitation programme. She has gradually resumed light training sessions with the firm aim of regaining her full athletic ability to return to top-level competition.
Benefits for women’s sport and regional coaching
The journey of determination embodied by the champion from Fez highlights the vital role of local clubs in social inclusion and the development of women’s sport. The emergence of talent from regional leagues such as that of Fez-Meknes testifies to the vitality of the national voluntary sector and its ability to identify and support high-calibre athletes despite the obstacles. Highlighting these inspiring stories encourages young girls to take up combat sports, reinforces a culture of sporting discipline and emphasises the importance of specialised medical care to ensure the long-term careers of our national hopefuls.
