Atlas Lions: first selection for Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal

Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal has taken a new step in his young career. The Stade Rennais defender made his first appearance with the Moroccan national team on Tuesday against Lesotho, during the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mohamed Ouahbi chose to start the young defender directly in the starting eleven in Bloemfontein. Aït Boudlal was thus included in the Moroccan defense for his debut with the Lions of the Atlas. This first match ended with a victory (2-0), thanks to goals from Brahim Diaz just before halftime and Azzedine Ounahi in the 82nd minute.

This first cap rewards the progress of the Stade Rennais player, who is already familiar with youth selections for Morocco. Trained at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, Aït Boudlal continues his rise and now adds a first appearance with the senior team to his record.

At just 20 years old, the central defender represents one of the new options available to Mohamed Ouahbi in this position. His starting role against Lesotho allows him to officially mark his place with the Lions of the Atlas, in a gathering characterized by the integration of several young players.