From Legacy to Honor: AIPS celebrates four icons of Moroccan sports media
Mohamed Selhami, one of the founders of the Moroccan Sports Press Association in 1971 (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
Hamza Ait Messaoud – AIPS Young Reporter – Morocco
Rabat, May 17, 2025 – The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) paid tribute to four distinguished Moroccan sports journalists during its annual awards gala in Rabat, honoring their lifelong contributions to sports media both nationally and internationally.
The ceremony, held as part of the 87th AIPS Congress—the first to be held in Africa in two decades—was attended by leading figures from the global sports and media community.
Veteran journalist Najib Essalmi’s daughter Lamia (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
The tribute began with veteran journalist Najib Essalmi, one of the prominent pioneers in Moroccan sports journalism. His daughter Lamia received the award on his behalf and delivered an emotional speech, expressing her father’s pride in his career and in being a member of AIPS since the last Moroccan-hosted Congress in Marrakech in 2005. “For my father, journalism wasn’t just a profession, it was a passion—a way to promote values of respect and professionalism,” she said.
Mohamed Selhami receives his trophy from Badreddine Idrissi, the current president of the Moroccan Sports Press Association (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
The spotlight then turned to Mohamed Selhami, one of the founders of the Moroccan Sports Press Association in 1971 and a key figure in the institutional development of the sports media sector in Morocco. In his remarks, Selhami recalled the early days of the Association, his deep friendship with Essalmi, and emphasized the importance of continuity across generations in building a national media identity.
Mustapha Badri (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
Next to be honored was Mustapha Badri, a leading name in sports photography across the Arab world and current director of the renowned sports daily “Al Mountakhab.” Badri shared the recognition with his family, acknowledging the sacrifices behind the camera. “This award is not just mine,” he said. “It belongs to my family and everyone who believes in the power of images to tell the story of sports.”
Belaid Bouimid’s wife Aicha receives the prize from Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
In one of the most emotional moments of the evening, a standing ovation was given in memory of the late Belaid Bouimid, a legendary figure in Moroccan sports journalism and former president of AIPS. His wife, Aicha Bouimid, received the honorary award to warm applause, honoring a career that spanned over five decades.
AIPS President Gianni Merlo spoke warmly of the honorees: “These are not just colleagues, they are family—pillars who shaped Moroccan and global sports journalism. I remember Najib Essalmi welcoming me to Rabat twenty years ago. Today, we honor his legacy and that of his fellow pioneers.”
The tribute closed on a note of unity and gratitude, echoing the deep appreciation felt by the international press community for Morocco’s contribution to sports journalism and its enduring spirit of generational continuity.
Courtesy AIPS
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From Legacy to Honor: AIPS celebrates four icons of Moroccan sports media
Mohamed Selhami, one of the founders of the Moroccan Sports Press Association in 1971 (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
Hamza Ait Messaoud – AIPS Young Reporter – Morocco
Rabat, May 17, 2025 – The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) paid tribute to four distinguished Moroccan sports journalists during its annual awards gala in Rabat, honoring their lifelong contributions to sports media both nationally and internationally.
The ceremony, held as part of the 87th AIPS Congress—the first to be held in Africa in two decades—was attended by leading figures from the global sports and media community.
Veteran journalist Najib Essalmi’s daughter Lamia (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
The tribute began with veteran journalist Najib Essalmi, one of the prominent pioneers in Moroccan sports journalism. His daughter Lamia received the award on his behalf and delivered an emotional speech, expressing her father’s pride in his career and in being a member of AIPS since the last Moroccan-hosted Congress in Marrakech in 2005. “For my father, journalism wasn’t just a profession, it was a passion—a way to promote values of respect and professionalism,” she said.
Mohamed Selhami receives his trophy from Badreddine Idrissi, the current president of the Moroccan Sports Press Association (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
The spotlight then turned to Mohamed Selhami, one of the founders of the Moroccan Sports Press Association in 1971 and a key figure in the institutional development of the sports media sector in Morocco. In his remarks, Selhami recalled the early days of the Association, his deep friendship with Essalmi, and emphasized the importance of continuity across generations in building a national media identity.
Mustapha Badri (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
Next to be honored was Mustapha Badri, a leading name in sports photography across the Arab world and current director of the renowned sports daily “Al Mountakhab.” Badri shared the recognition with his family, acknowledging the sacrifices behind the camera. “This award is not just mine,” he said. “It belongs to my family and everyone who believes in the power of images to tell the story of sports.”
Belaid Bouimid’s wife Aicha receives the prize from Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (Photo by Carlo Pozzoni/AIPS Media)
In one of the most emotional moments of the evening, a standing ovation was given in memory of the late Belaid Bouimid, a legendary figure in Moroccan sports journalism and former president of AIPS. His wife, Aicha Bouimid, received the honorary award to warm applause, honoring a career that spanned over five decades.
AIPS President Gianni Merlo spoke warmly of the honorees: “These are not just colleagues, they are family—pillars who shaped Moroccan and global sports journalism. I remember Najib Essalmi welcoming me to Rabat twenty years ago. Today, we honor his legacy and that of his fellow pioneers.”
The tribute closed on a note of unity and gratitude, echoing the deep appreciation felt by the international press community for Morocco’s contribution to sports journalism and its enduring spirit of generational continuity.
