A former football star, Bagétimbi Gomiz is switching fields—but keeping his sense of timing. Present at GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, the former Senegalese international striker has a clear ambition: to invest in African innovation, especially in sport tech.
In Marrakech, among the high-tech aisles of GITEX Africa, a familiar face from the world of football stood out—Bagétimbi Gomiz. With his iconic hair and now turned investor, he came to explore trends and opportunities. “I’m here out of curiosity, but also conviction. This isn’t my usual field, tech, but it’s a world I’m getting to know. And what I see here in Morocco makes me want to go further,” he told L’Observateur du Maroc et d’Afrique with a bright smile.
A former Senegalese international and a big name on European pitches, Gomiz has never severed ties with Africa. Quite the opposite. He says he’s deeply moved by the Moroccan welcome: “I feel like a fish in water. I grew up in the south of France surrounded by Moroccans, and I’ve always felt that hospitality. Coming here feels like coming home.”
Morocco, the engine of African sports Alongside tech, African football is impossible to ignore. His eyes light up as he talks about Morocco’s achievement at the last World Cup. “Morocco has become a real engine of African football. The progress is huge. This country inspires the whole continent.”
And he’s full of praise for public policy: “Your King—or rather our King, because as an African, I feel involved—has invested a lot in sports. Elite centers, support for youth… it’s all very real. And thanks to people like Nasser Larguet, a new generation is emerging.”
His wish? That Morocco goes even further. “Why not win the next World Cup? It’ll be played here, at home. We’ll be here to support this great team—as Africans.”
From player to investor But at GITEX, Gomiz isn’t just here to talk football. He has projects. He’s observing, exchanging, drawing inspiration. And he’s investing: “I’ve backed PASD, a new social network dedicated to sports. The idea is to bring all the needs of an athlete into one platform. It’s a tool for players, clubs, and agents.”
He doesn’t hide his excitement about the Moroccan ecosystem: “I heard there are over 200 Moroccan startups present here. I’m going to meet them. This country is full of great ideas. They need to be supported, helped to bloom.”
At the crossroads of sports and technology, Gomiz is writing a new chapter—with Morocco as his field of the future.
