Trying for a touchdown in Morocco

Female coach looking to grow gridiron's popularity in Africa

RABAT, Morocco - Under the scorching summer sun, coach Ichtar Zahraoui bellows directions to "the Pirates", young Moroccan men and women learning to play American gridiron.

Focused and sweaty, 30 players gather every Sunday to practice the sport, an unusual scene in a country obsessed with soccer, the world's more common form of football.