Tag: Arab Footballers in Europe

MOROCCO’s Ilias Akhomach Ranks Among Top 3 Arab Dribblers in Europe

The new Atlas Lion played in Morocco’s first friendly game against Angola and is expected to be present in the second friendly against Mauritania on March 26.

Moroccan international footballer Ilias Akhomach is one of the top 3 most successful Arab dribblers in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season, according to the sports statistics website Sofascore.

The Villarreal CF’s right-winger has no fewer than 39 successful dribbles and comes after Algeria’s Rayan Ait-Nouri with 45 successful dribbles and Jordan’s Mousa Al-Taamari with 40 dribbles.

For the young Moroccan, who is participating in his debut season with the Spanish club, this is a huge honor. His coach Marcelino Garcia Toral has confidence in him because of his rapid rise to the starting lineup.

The 19-year-old player was recently called up by  Walid Regragui, the Moroccan national football team’s coach, to take part in the Atlas Lions’ training camp. 

On his official Instagram account, Akhomach expressed his joy over his selection to defend the Moroccan colors, saying: “Thanks God the dream has come true. I am proud of wearing the national jersey.”

Speaking to the media, the Moroccan player stated: “I always give my all when I play football … Since I was a child, I have always dreamt of being here and the opportunity has come now.” 

Akhomach made his debut in the friendly match against Angola, replacing Eliesse Ben Seghir in the 88th minute.

The game ended with a 1-0 victory in favor of Morocco with Angola’s defender David Carmo scoring an own-goal in the 72nd minute.

Akhomach is also expected to be back in the second friendly game against Mauritania on March 26, which will take place at the Adrar stadium in Agadir at 10 p.m.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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Ilias Akhomach during the Morocco-Angola match

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MOROCCO

MOROCCO: Nayef Aguerd’s Inspiring Journey: ‘A Hollywood Story for Moroccan Kids’

The Moroccan footballer’s value on the transfer market is estimated at € 32 million.

Moroccan professional football player Nayef Aguerd has been featured in a new documentary that explores his inspiring journey from playing in the streets of Kenitra to joining Premier League team West Ham as a center-back.

The documentary, titled “Premier League Stories – Nayef Aguerd,” follows the Moroccan defender’s journey from playing for the Moroccan club FUS Rabat, Dijon, and Rennes in France, to joining West Ham United in the English Premier League. 

One of the documentaries’ outstanding, particularly emotional scenes shows how Aguerd suffered a serious ankle injury that nearly halted his first season in England’s top league.

Speaking about the footballer‘s inspirational story, French football journalist Julien Laurens said, “I think Aguerd’s story is incredible. He is a symbol of a Moroccan kid who played in Morocco and who was born there and still made his way all the way up to the best league in the world.”

The journalist enthused: “For the kids in Morocco, Aguerd is this Hollywood story.” 

Born in Kenitra, Aguerd started his career at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale, a city near Rabat. He landed his first professional contract with Fath Union Sport, also called FUS Rabat, in 2014.

Aguerd spent four seasons with FUS Rabat before joining Dijon in the French Ligue 1. In 2020, he joined Rennes FC, another Ligue 1 club. After to years of brilliant displays during which he established himself as an undroppable and reliable defender at the heart of of Rennes’ defense, the Moroccan footballer signed a five-year contract with England’s West Ham United in July 2022

At a pivotal time in his professional life, the sought-after defender underwent ankle surgery after injuring his ankle in a preseason friendly against Rangers in 2022.

“The two weeks after the surgery, it was difficult to move, so I was in the hotel, taking a lot of pain killers,” Aguerd is seen explaining in the documentary.

Aguerd, whose current value on the transfer market is estimated at € 32 million, pointed out his much-reported, high-value transfer to the Premier League put a lot of pressure on him as he felt the need to prove himself. “When you come with a transfer value like mine, you want to show that you deserve it,” the player said.

Prior to playing for the Moroccan national team, Argued stated that it was his childhood dream to represent his country in the world’s most important competition.

Little wonder then that, in the documentary, the sought-after defender was ecstatic when recalling his country’s historic World Cup journey. “I will never forget this tournament,” he said of the Moroccan Atlas Lions’ heroics in Qatar.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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MOROCCO