politics
Drowned the day her visa came through: the tragedy of a Moroccan footballer trying to reach Ceuta
Struggling on her meagre pay, Faten Ben Omar El Azizi dreamed of reaching Europe. Then she joined thousands trying to reach a better life in Spain
TL;DR
- Faten Ben Omar El Azizi, a Moroccan footballer, drowned attempting an illegal crossing to Ceuta.
- Her visa to Spain was approved on the day she died, an ironic twist to her aspirations.
- Low wages and unemployment in Morocco made it impossible for El Azizi to support her family through football.
- She is one of at least 141 people who died during the mass crossing to Ceuta in July.
- The incident highlights the struggles of Moroccan youth seeking better opportunities abroad amidst high unemployment rates.