The remarkable rise of Azzedine Ounahi

• 22-year-old Azzedine Ounahi is set to star against Spain in the Round of 16

• The midfielder was playing in the third tier of French football just 18 months ago

• The Moroccan has been one of the revelations of Qatar 2022

In May 2021, US Avranches just about clung on to their Championnat National status, finishing 13th out of 18 sides. But, in spite of their struggles, the French club had a talented young Moroccan in their ranks who was turning heads with stellar performances.

His name was Azzedine Ounahi. An agile midfielder with excellent dribbling skills and outstanding tactical awareness, he never shirked a tackle despite his slim build. It was already clear for all to see that the youngster was destined to play at the highest level.

However, Ounahi would have to wait for his chance to compete in the top flight. Fresh out of the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale, Morocco, the midfielder started his senior career at Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg in July 2018, featuring initially for the reserves.

“I signed a pre-contract agreement on the understanding that I would later sign a professional contract. I was convinced that would happen after lockdown, but it turned out I was wrong,” said the Angers midfielder.

“That’s football. I accepted it, but I was still sure I had what it takes to play in Ligue 1 or Ligue 2.” And it then that the opportunity to join third-tier US Avranches presented itself, which Ounahi naturally grabbed with both hands, going on to enjoy a successful spell at the club. After a season in Normandy, the young Moroccan left the third division for SCO Angers in Ligue 1, putting his skills to the ultimate test. This turned out to be an inspired move for Ounahi, who quickly became a key player at his new club.

“I knew he was a good player, but I didn’t think he would go on to play as well as he has,” said Frederic Reculeau, his former coach at US Avranches. “He fully deserves it and I’m so glad to see him playing the way he is now, both in Ligue 1 and at the World Cup.”

His development and fine performances for the club did not go unnoticed, quickly catching the eye of former Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who named him, to many people’s surprise, in his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations 2021.

The Angers midfielder started all three group games for the Atlas Lions and came off the bench in their 2-1 defeat by Egypt in the quarter-finals, getting his international career off and running in a major tournament. He also played a starring role in Morocco’s qualifying campaign for Qatar 2022™, bagging a brace and registering an assist in their crucial 4-1 play-off victory over Congo DR.

But although Halilhodzic was replaced by Walid Regragui as Morocco head coach this August, Ounahi kept his place in the national team and started all three group games in Qatar.

“He’s an important part of the team, he’s one of our finest technical players, and we’re very happy with his contribution,” said Morocca defender Nayef Aguerd. “He’s a consummate pro and really good player, I like him a lot. He showed during the qualifying campaign that nothing phases him and that he can bring even more to the team.” Ounahi himself then went on to say: “What’s happened to me is incredible. I was playing in the National [French third tier] a year ago and I never imagined that I’d now be playing in a World Cup. I’ve developed and worked hard, and signing for Angers gave me the opportunity to be called up.”

Morocco captain and former Angers defender Romain Saiss is also full of admiration for the youngster: “He’s growing in confidence by the day. He struggled on his debut, but we know just how much quality he has.

"The World Cup is a different proposition entirely. I can tell that he’s becoming more assured in his own game, and he has a lot of potential. He needs to work really hard and stay determined if he wants to go on and have a great career.”

Who would have believed that Azzedine Ounahi would start for Morocco in a last-16 World Cup tie, as he is expected to do against Spain on Tuesday 6 December?

And the young Moroccan hopes to continue growing in the tournament. “In the first two games, I tried to play as safe as possible, to not give the ball away too much. Against Canada, I wanted to show what I could do, to look more relaxed. I got on the ball more so as to express myself more and get a rhythm going.”

Regardless of whether Morocco progress further at this World Cup, at just 22 years of age, Azzedine Ounahi has shown through his impressive performances on the world stage that he is most certainly one to look out for in the years to come.

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