Five Moroccan players earned spots in the Best XI of the 15th U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON U17), which wrapped up on Saturday with Morocco crowned champions.
The players are goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch, right-back Moncef Zekri, center-defender Driss Aït Chiekh, attacking midfielder Abdellah Ouazzane, and left winger Ilies Belmokhtar.
According to the website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Bellaarouch, a product of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, was one of the key players behind Morocco’s title win.
“Rock-solid on his line, dominant in the air, and decisive in the penalty shootout during the final against Mali, he deservedly walks away with the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper award,” cafonline.com commented.
Regarding Zekri, CAF highlighted that he is “always accurate in his forward runs and precise with his crosses,” emphasizing his understanding with Ouazane during attacking phases often unsettled opposing defences.
Another “explosive force on the flank”, Aït Chiekh, who embodied Moroccan energy was defensively solid and incisive going forward, according to the website. “He often provided an extra option in attack.”
As for Ouazzane, he was dubbed the playmaker. Elegant, composed, and blessed with a silky left foot, the Ajax Amsterdam player dazzled the tournament with his talent. he conducted play with astonishing poise and maturity,” the article reads.
Finally, Belmokhtar was praised for his speed and skill, which gave opposing defenses a hard time while also contributing to the team effort, according to the same source.
The other players selected in the tournament’s Best XI are Issouf Dabo (Burkina Faso), Vaboué Doumbia (Ivory Coast), Issa Tounkara (Mali), Seydou Dembélé (Mali), Ashsaraf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), and Alynho Haidara (Ivory Coast).
The Moroccan team won the U-17 AFCON by defeating their Malian counterparts in the final via penalty shootout (4–2, after a 0–0 draw in regulation time), on Saturday at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia.
