Latest news with #AtlasCub
Morocco World
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Best U17 Youth Player: Morocco's Ilies Belmokhtar Named Golden Kid
Rabat – Morocco's rising star Ilies Belmokhtar has been named the best U17 youth player competing in France at the inaugural Golden Kid Awards. Le Monde Du Foot reported that Belmokhtar is taking home a well-deserved recognition, rewarding his exceptional 2024-2025 season. 'For this inaugural edition, Ilies Belmokhtar truly shone. Gifted with genuine tactical maturity, he was one of the key architects of AS Monaco's success in youth competitions this season,' the same source said. Commenting on his new achievement, Belmokhtar commented that the award is a 'great pride.' 'Especially to my parents, I hope they are proud of me,' he said . The same sports-focused website recalled the triumphs the Atlas Cub has achieved with Morocco, including his U17 Africa Cup of Nations win in April. The Golden Kid awards seek to recognize the best young developing players in France. The initiative is the fruit of L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi and streamer Isoline Almeida. In May, Ilies Belmokhtar signed his first professional contract with AS Monaco. Belmokhtar was born in Ivry-sur-Seine in 2008, and joined the AS Monaco Academy in 2023. In April, the Atlas Cub was among the five players from the national U-17 team selected for the Best XI of the Under-17 AFCON in its 15th edition. In addition to Belmokhtar, the players chosen for the Best XI include: goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch, right-back Moncef Zekri, central defender Driss Aït Chiekh, and attacking midfielder Abdellah Ouazzane. Morocco's AFCON triumph came after a dramatic 0-0 draw against Mali in the final, followed by a 4-2 win in the penalty shootout, securing their spot in football history. Tags: Africa Football FederationAfrican Confederation of Football
Ya Biladi
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Morocco U20 coach Ouahbi eyes AFCON glory with Atlas Cubs against Sierra Leone
The coach of Morocco's U20 national football team, Mohamed Ouahbi, stated on Sunday in Cairo that his Atlas Cubs are determined to show the same drive and tactical discipline in order to «go as far as possible» in the Africa Cup of Nations (Egypt 2025). Speaking at a press conference ahead of Monday's quarterfinal clash against Sierra Leone, Ouahbi praised his players' qualities and their strong awareness of the team's objectives, highlighting the progress made over two years of consistent work. He also commended the discipline displayed by the squad during the group stage, which they topped. Regarding the upcoming match, Ouahbi acknowledged Sierra Leone's impressive performance in the tournament, noting that the team has been one of the surprise packages. «Although Sierra Leone has never qualified for an AFCON before, their attacking statistics show they've fully embraced their role as underdogs», he said. For his part, Atlas Cub Hossam Essadak stated that the players are committed to strictly following the coach's instructions on the pitch to reach the semifinals and secure a place in the World Cup. Sierra Leone's coach, Mohamed Lamine Kamara, emphasized that his players are aiming to «make history for Sierra Leonean football», as this marks the country's first-ever appearance in the U20 AFCON finals. «We have a lot of respect for the Moroccan team—one of the best on the African continent», he said, while expressing confidence in his side's ability to achieve a positive result in the quarterfinal.
