Author: La Redaction
At just 17 years old, Chouaib Bellaarouch has etched his name into the history books of African football. On Saturday, April 19, 2025, the young Moroccan goalkeeper was crowned Best Goalkeeper of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations—an award that speaks volumes about his outstanding performances throughout the tournament. The undisputed hero of the final against Mali, Bellaarouch once again rose to the occasion by saving two crucial penalties, securing the title for the Atlas Cubs. Trained at the Mohammed VI Academy, the Atlas Cubs’ last line of defense consistently impressed with his composure, positioning, and reading of the game.…
The Moroccan U17 national team has conquered the summit of African football by winning the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, following a thrilling final against Mali. In front of a jubilant home crowd, the Atlas Cubs kept their composure to triumph in the penalty shootout (4–2), successfully defending the trophy on home soil. Facing a determined Malian side—two-time champions (2015, 2017) and previously eliminated by Morocco in the semifinals of the last U23 AFCON—the young Lions showed their intent from the very first minutes. Energetic and ambitious, they tested goalkeeper Sinaba on multiple occasions. Mali thought they had opened the…
Real Madrid failed to live up to expectations in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal. Beaten 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, Los Blancos crashed out of the competition with a heavy 5-1 aggregate score, the result of a one-sided two-legged tie. A bitter disappointment for the Spanish giants, known for their experience in major European fixtures. Buoyed by hopes of a comeback, the Madrid crowd believed in a potential remontada. But despite overall domination, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were inefficient in attack and shaky in defence. The match could have taken a disastrous turn as early as the 13th…
In a tense semi-final clash against Côte d’Ivoire, one name stood out brilliantly: Chouaib Bellaarouch. The young Moroccan goalkeeper, a product of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, was rightfully named Man of the Match after a stellar performance at the Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia. Rock-solid throughout the 90 minutes—during which he pulled off two outstanding saves—the young Lion truly rose to the occasion during the penalty shootout, single-handedly denying three Ivorian attempts. His heroic display was instrumental in securing Morocco’s spot in the final (4-3 on penalties), following a goalless draw in regular time. More than just a goalkeeper, Bellaarouch…
In a dramatic Champions League quarter-final second leg, Paris Saint-Germain suffered a 3-2 defeat away to Aston Villa but still managed to secure a spot in the semi-finals thanks to their 3-1 victory in the first leg at the Parc des Princes. It was a high-stakes evening, marked by a goal from Achraf Hakimi and a two-faced team performance that nearly saw PSG suffer another European heartbreak. Just 11 minutes into the game, the Moroccan international set his team on the right track. Taking advantage of a poor clearance by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Hakimi latched onto a move started by…
The young midfielder from Real Madrid, Thiago Pitarch, has been called up by Spain’s U18 national team, effectively halting the efforts of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to convince him to join their ranks. According to the newspaper Marca, this decision comes after Morocco, through former international Nourredine Naybet, attempted to integrate him into their U18 national team, drawn by his promising profile and his development within Spanish football. Trained at Atlético Madrid before moving to Getafe and Leganés, Thiago now plays with the Real Madrid youth team, where he notably participated in the Youth League under Álvaro Arbeloa. Although…
Starting at kickoff in the quarter-final against South Africa, Ziyad Baha made a significant impact on the match. In just two minutes, the young Moroccan forward scored a crucial brace (61st and 62nd minutes), allowing the Atlas Lion Cubs to take the lead and then extend their advantage in this knockout match of the U17 AFCON. Substituted in the 77th minute to applause, the player was named man of the match by the African Football Confederation (CAF), a well-deserved recognition for his accomplished performance and his importance in Morocco’s qualification for the semi-finals.
The Moroccan U17 team, led by Nabil Baha, continues its promising journey in the Africa Cup of Nations. On Thursday, the Lion Cubs secured their ticket to the semi-finals by overcoming South Africa (3-1) at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia. Ismail El Aoud opened the scoring as early as the 13th minute, before Ziyad Baha signed a quick brace in the 61st and 62nd minutes, just after the South African equalizer scored by Neo Bohloko (54th minute). This success confirms the strong momentum of the Moroccans, solid in their collective play and effective in key moments. In front of…
On the occasion of the 27th matchday of the Portuguese Liga, FC Famalicão hosted Avs Futebol in a match that concluded with a resounding victory for the home side (4-1). This match was notably marked by the first goal in the top division for the young Moroccan U20 international, Yassir Zabiri. Having come on in the 81st minute, the young player needed only a few moments to make an impact. In stoppage time (90+2), he took advantage of an accurate pass from Gil Dias to deceive the opposing goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa, and thus open his scoring account in the league.…
Genk kicked off the Champions’ Playoffs in ideal fashion with a resounding victory over Gent (4-0) on Sunday. Despite a frustrating start marked by two missed penalties and a disallowed goal, the Limburg team found the net thanks to a stunning curled left-footed strike from Konstantinos Karetsas (38th minute), who was perfectly assisted by Zakaria El Ouahdi. The Moroccan U23 international recorded his first assist in these playoffs and now boasts a tally of five goals and two assists across all competitions this season. Positioned as a right-back, he delivered a solid performance before being substituted in the 86th minute…