Morocco’s International Football Players Stand out on European Pitches

Morocco’s international players continue to make their mark in Europe, delivering standout performances across various leagues and confirming their growing stature on the continent’s pitches.

On Matchday 9 of the French Ligue 1, Achraf Hakimi led Paris Saint-Germain to a convincing 3–0 victory at Brest, scoring a brace and once again proving why he is regarded as one of the best right-backs in world football. His combination of solid defense and attacking flair highlights his modern, dynamic style of play.

Meanwhile, Youssef El Arabi continued to shine for FC Nantes, contributing decisively to their 2–1 win over Paris FC after having netted the equalizer against Rennes on Matchday 5.

During the Nice vs Rennes match, Sofiane Diop opened the scoring for Nice, who won 2-1, while his compatriot, young defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, trained at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, narrowed the gap for Rennes after coming on as a substitute. 

Meanwhile, international player Hamza Igamane kicked off Lille’s offensive festival against Metz (6-1) by opening the scoring, further illustrating the strong influence of Moroccan players in Ligue 1.

In the English Premier League, striker Chemsdine Talbi distinguished himself by scoring Sunderland’s winning goal against Chelsea in the 93rd minute, earning his team three precious points. 

In the Spanish La Liga, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, returning from injury, contributed to Girona’s hard-fought draw (3-3) against Oviedo, scoring his team’s second goal. 

In the Dutch league (Eredivisie), Ismael Saibari put in a remarkable performance, scoring a hat trick in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-2 win over Feyenoord, while Oussama Targhalline scored the opposing club’s second goal. 

In Greece, Ayoub El Kaabi brought his total to six goals this season after scoring a penalty in Olympiacos’ 2-0 victory over AEK Athens on matchday 8.

In Tukey, Youssef En-Nesyri also delivered a stellar performance with a brace scored during his team’s match against Gaziantep (4-0) on matchday 10.

Morocco’s international forward Hamza Igamane has established himself as one of Ligue 1’s breakout revelations, according to the Spanish sports daily Marca. The newspaper highlighted the outstanding performances of the LOSC Lille striker, who recently scored what it called the goal of the season.

Signed from Rangers for €11.5 million, Igamane has already netted seven goals and passed several decisive assists in just 378 minutes of play, averaging a direct goal contribution every 47 minutes, according to Marca.

Taking advantage of Olivier Giroud’s absence through injury, the Moroccan forward has quickly stolen the spotlight at Lille, impressing with his power, technique, and composure.

Former LOSC defender Adil Rami has compared him to Ronaldo Nazário, while others have dubbed him “Morocco’s Adriano” for his steel-like nerves and clinical finishing, Marca reports.

Drawing inspiration from Didier Drogba’s style, the young striker showcases a complete and modern centre-forward profile, capable of combining efficiency with creativity.

His coach, Bruno Génésio, praised his exceptional qualities while noting that he still needs to improve his tactical discipline. For Marca, Hamza Igamane is charting the course to become the next Moroccan football emblem of a new generation of players lighting up European pitches.

Already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Morocco’s national football team capped off a flawless African qualifying campaign with a 1-0 victory over Congo on Tuesday night at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

With their 16th in a row across all competitions, the Atlas Lions not only sealed their perfect run in Group E but also set a new world record for consecutive victories, underlining their status as one of the most dominant teams in international football today.

The game’s only goal was scored by Youssef En-Nesyri in the 63rd minute who netted an inch-perfect cross from the captain Achraf Hakimi.

With this victory, the Atlas Lions are the undisputed leaders of Group E with 24 points earned from eight consecutive victories. Walid Regragui’s protégés secured their ticket to the World Cup after their resounding 5-0 victory over Niger in the previous round of African qualifiers.

In addition to qualifying for the World Cup and finishing top of the group, the national team made history by becoming the first team in the world to win 16 consecutive international matches, beating the record jointly held by Germany and Spain (15 consecutive wins).

In the match against Congo, which saw Soufiane El Karouani start at left back and Hamza Igamane as center forward, the Atlas Lions wasted no time in showing threat, with their first clear chance coming in the second minute after a cross from Brahim Diaz that Ismael Saibari failed to convert into a goal.

During the first quarter of an hour of play, the Moroccan players attempted to increase the pace, opting for quick passes in an effort to break through the opposing team’s defensive line.

Relying on counterattacks, the Congolese tried their luck in the 27th minute with a long-range shot, but it posed little threat to Yassine Bounou.

At the end of the first half, the Atlas Lions created two clear chances to open the scoring, notably through Eliesse Ben Seghir, but without success.

After the break, Walid Regragui replaced Eliesse Ben Seghir with Youssef En-Nesyri to make better use of aerial balls. It was a choice that paid off, as En-Nesyri scored the winning goal for the national team in the 63rd minute, following a decisive pass from Achraf Hakimi.

After this goal, the national coach made several changes to inject fresh blood into the team. Ilias Akhomach, Adam Masina, and Ayoub El Kaabi were subbed on for Jawad El Yamiq, Hamza Igamane, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.

The Atlas Lions dominated the game up until the final whistle, creating numerous scoring opportunities thanks in particular to Ismael Saibari, Ilias Akhomach, and Ayoub El Kaabi, but the Congolese defense held firm and the Moroccan attackers were too hasty, preventing the Atlas Lions from adding to their tally.

The Moroccan national team defeated its Bahraini counterpart 1-0 in a friendly match played Thursday evening at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The winning goal for the Atlas Lions was scored by Jawad El Yamiq in stoppage time (90+4).

In its next match, the Moroccan national team will face Congo on October 14 at the same stadium on the final round of the African World Cup qualifiers (Group E).

The Moroccan team secured its qualification for the 2026 World Cup as early as Matchday 7, by defeating Niger 5-0 on September 5 in Rabat.

Morocco has moved up one spot to 11th in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking released on Thursday.

The Atlas Lions, with 1,706 points, benefited from Germany’s drop to 12th after a shock defeat in its opening 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Morocco is close behind Croatia and Italy, which have climbed to 9th and 10th places respectively.

Spain returned to the top of the global table for the first time since 2014, overtaking Argentina, which slipped to third after holding the number one spot for more than two years. France climbed to second place, while Portugal re-entered the Top 5 at Brazil’s expense.

In Africa, Senegal remains 18th, while Egypt dropped to 35th and Algeria is now 38th. 

Slovakia recorded the biggest jump worldwide, rising ten places to 42nd following a strong start to World Cup qualifying.

Canada (26th) and Kosovo (91st) both achieved their best-ever rankings since FIFA introduced the system in 1993.

Moroccan international Brahim Díaz is a “major asset” for both the Moroccan national team and Real Madrid, writes Spanish news site OkDiario.

The attacking midfielder is enjoying a successful spell and has established himself as one of the best players among the Atlas Lions, who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the outlet notes.

With Real Madrid, Brahim Díaz stands out for his versatility and creativity, making him an essential part of coach Xabi Alonso’s system, the Spanish media outlet emphasizes.

OkDiario reports that the Malaga-born player also enjoys high visibility off the pitch, having become the most attractive figure for sponsors and a prime ambassador for Moroccan football.

The news site reminds that Real Madrid recently extended Brahim Díaz’s contract until 2027, deeming him a key member of its current and future squad.