The death of Faten Ben Amar El Azizi, a young prospect in Moroccan women's football, has caused dismay in Morocco and reignited debate surrounding the extreme risks of irregular migration.
The athlete lost her life while attempting to swim to the Spanish city of Ceuta, in one of the most dramatic episodes of the recent migratory wave. Spanish authorities reported that between 50,000 and 60,000 people participated in crossing attempts, a crisis that has already resulted in at least 67 deaths.
Faten's club, Maghreb Atlético Tetuán (MAT), paid tribute to the player, stating her dream was "a better life and a future," and that the crossing proved fatal. The Moroccan Union of Professional Footballers also joined the tributes, remembering the athlete and the young woman who saw football and migration as opportunities for change.
