French Outlet: Morocco tops Africa with U-17 AFCON victory spurred by 'golden generation'

The specialized outlet Foot Mercato reported on Monday that a golden generation has taken Morocco to the pinnacle of African football, following the Atlas Cubs’ victory over Mali in the U-17 AFCON final after a thrilling penalty shootout.

This 2008-2009 generation made history by becoming the first in the country to win the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the outlet commented.

“With a rather impressive squad, the team led by former Moroccan international Nabil Baha, who notably played for Montpellier, was considered one of the tournament favorites.”

The national coach could count on several highly talented players, starting with the team’s star Abdellah Ouazane, who played a crucial role in the heart of the midfield, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists during the competition.

Morocco also benefited from a reliable goalkeeper in key moments: Chouaib Bellaarouch. Trained at the renowned Mohammed VI Academy, he shows strong potential for development. According to the French website, some French clubs have already made inquiries to bring him in this summer.

Ilies Belmokhtar is another standout. The young AS Monaco winger dazzled from start to finish. Brilliant from the opening match, he was likely Morocco’s best attacking player, according to the source.

This Moroccan team also boasts other promising profiles that are expected to shine in the future. One such player is Ibrahim Rabbaj, nicknamed the “Moroccan Messi,” who plays for Chelsea. Foot Mercato highlights him as a high-potential player who could break out soon.

A similar case is Elyes Saïdi, a midfielder at Auxerre. First called up earlier this year, he quickly earned a starting spot during the preparation matches and solidified his place on the squad for the tournament. He remains a very interesting profile and is already being closely watched by European football scouts, adds Foot Mercato.