Latest news with #Bounou
Morocco World
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Bounou Breaks Unwanted Record with Hilal
Yassine Bounou endured a torrid evening last Friday between the posts as Al-Raed stunned Al-Hilal with three goals in Buraydah in Round 30 of the Saudi Pro League. Morocco's Karim El Berkaoui opened the scoring against his compatriot Bounou at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, notching his first of two goals of the night. The second came in the 68th minute, before Saleh Al-Amri slotted home a 99th-minute penalty. Al Hilal won the game 3-5, but still Bounou's tally of goals conceded in the league ballooned to 37, making him the first goalkeeper in Al-Hilal's history to concede 35 or more in a single season . In a separate development, Bounou took to Instagram to bid an emotional farewell to outgoing manager Jorge Jesus, who parted ways with the club by mutual consent following their exit from the AFC Champions League at the hands of Al-Ahli. 'Thank you Mr Jesus for all the moments we shared,' Bounou wrote . 'You've been a model of professionalism and respect, and a man with a big heart.' With the Club World Cup looming next month in the United States, Al-Hilal have temporarily placed club legend Mohammad Al-Shalhoub at the helm. But the real buzz surrounds Marco Silva, currently in charge at Fulham, who has reportedly agreed to take over after the Premier League season wraps up. Silva, 46, boasts a resume that includes spells at Hull City, Watford, Everton, Olympiacos, and Sporting CP. This term, he's led Fulham to mid-table respectability, recording 14 wins in 35 league outings. Tags: Al HilalSaudi pro leagueyassine bounou
The National
15-04-2025
- Sport
- The National
Yassine Bounou honoured to spearhead Al Hilal's challenge at Club World Cup
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou can't wait to embark upon a new journey as Al Hilal prepare to write an exciting chapter in their history during the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States this summer. The Saudi Arabian giants are looking to make an impression on the wider world, having dominated football in the kingdom and also the region for many years. The Club World Cup offers Al Hilal an opportunity to not only test themselves against the best in the business, during an expanded tournament, but also show how far the club and Saudi football in general has progressed in the past few years, especially since the huge wave of investments in the Saudi Pro League. Their first challenge will be one of the biggest in world football – against 15-time Uefa Champions League winners Real Madrid in their opening Group H fixture at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on June 18. They will then lock horns with FC Salzburg and CF Pachuca. And leading their challenge will be Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper had a memorable tournament at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, helping his team to an unprecedented run to the semi-finals. Los Blancos are an opponent that Bounou knows well, having played against them 10 times during his spells at Spanish clubs Girona and Sevilla. Al Hilal also faced Madrid in the final of the 2022 Club World Cup, which the Spanish giants won 5-3. 'I've played against Real a lot; I have many friends in the team, and I've always met their fans on the streets of Spain. I've always had mutual respect for the club and its supporters. I've faced a lot of great teams throughout my career, and I'm privileged that Real Madrid is one of them, and it's a great honour to do it again wearing the Al Hilal shirt, which is a world-famous club in its own right,' Bounou told 'There are no easy games in modern football, and that certainly applies to this tournament. We want to go as far as possible. As a Moroccan player at a World Cup, I aspire to reach a level I have never reached before.' The Moroccan star said he will be looking to draw from his experience at Qatar 2022 where Bounou emerged as one of the premier goalkeepers in the world. 'Participating in the World Cup is a very important part of every player's career, and the experience I have gained from it will be an additional factor that the team can capitalise on,' he said. Beyond football, Bounou said the tournament is important in spreading the game to a massive territory like the United States and North America, which will also host the Fifa World Cup in 2026, while also representing the football culture of the Gulf region. 'Since a World Cup is a tournament that brings together many cultures from all over the world in one country and one stadium, I'm sure the atmosphere will be amazing. 'As part of our position in the Arab world, we recognise the value of the fans and realise how important they will be for us at the Club World Cup. Great teams seek to reach a larger audience in a tournament like this. We already have fans on different continents, and our participation is a positive thing for them.' Ultimately, many players at the Club World Cup will have one eye on the 2026 finals which also take place in the US. But Bounou wants to focus on the tournament in front of him. 'Every player in the world wishes to have the opportunity to represent his country in the World Cup, but now there is a new opportunity thanks to the Club World Cup. I am honoured to represent Al Hilal in this tournament and, God willing, we will perform at our best,' said the 34-year-old.
Ya Biladi
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Saïss explains Bounou's last-minute withdrawal from 2022 World Cup match against Belgium
Just minutes before Morocco's national team faced Belgium during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was unexpectedly replaced by fellow keeper Munir El Mohamedi El Kajoui—a last-minute decision that left many fans puzzled. Three years after that match, Romain Ghanem Saïss, who captained the Moroccan team during the tournament, shared the behind-the-scenes details of the sudden change during an appearance on the French podcast Le Club des 5. «That day, Yassine came up to me and said he wasn't feeling well, even before we stepped onto the pitch», recalled Saïss, who now plays for Al Sadd in Qatar. «He said, 'I'm not feeling good, my head is spinning'. Right there in the corridor before we walked out». Saïss qui raconte le cas Bono lors du Mondial Magique ? Via @LeClubDes_5 — SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) April 13, 2025 «I told him, 'Wait, let's talk to the doctor.' I asked, 'Are you okay? Are you sure?' And he said, 'No, honestly, I'm not well. My head is spinning'», Saïss added. Bounou then informed the referee that he wasn't in condition to play. During the national anthems, he could still be seen standing next to Saïss, visibly unsteady. «When we moved to the side, I said, 'Call the coach and the doctor. Let them know Yassine's not doing well.' I thought, this is over—I had to hold him a little because he was dizzy», Saïss said. That's how Munir ended up in the team photo while Bounou appeared only in the pre-match anthem footage, Saïss explained. Bounou later explained that it was a painkilling injection that caused him to miss the match, despite having lined up with the team minutes before kickoff. His disappearance initially confused commentators, who took a moment to realize he had been replaced by Munir.
Morocco World
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Bounou Confident as Al Hilal Prepare to Face Real Madrid in Club World Cup
Rabat – Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has said that Al Hilal are ready to take on the world's best teams, including Real Madrid, at the upcoming Club World Cup 2025. Speaking in an interview with FIFA , Bounou shared his excitement about playing in the tournament and expressed confidence in his team's ability to make a strong impact. Al Hilal, champions of Asia, will face a tough challenge in Group H, where they are drawn against Real Madrid, FC Salzburg, and CF Pachuca. But Bounou, who has faced Real Madrid many times before while playing for Spanish clubs Girona and Sevilla, said his past experience gives him confidence. 'I've played against Real a lot; I have many friends in the team, and I've always met their fans on the streets of Spain. I've always had mutual respect for the club and its supporters,' he said. 'I've faced a lot of great teams throughout my career, and I'm privileged that Real Madrid is one of them, and it's a great honour to do it again wearing the Al Hilal shirt,' the player added. The 2023 African Goalkeeper of the Year added that the Saudi Arabian team is motivated to go far in the competition. 'We at Al Hilal are honored to participate in the first edition of the Club World Cup (in its new format). We look forward to delivering a performance worthy of Al Hilal,' he stated. The upcoming Club World Cup will be the first to feature an expanded format featuring 32 of the world's top clubs. Bounou also spoke about the difficulty of the group stage and said he hopes to reach 'a level I have never reached before' as a Moroccan player in this global competition. The player also reflected on his experience at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where he helped Morocco reach the semi-finals for the first time in history. 'The experience I have gained from it will be an additional factor that the team can capitalise on,' he said. When asked whether he would like to face one of his old clubs, Wydad or Atlético, in the later rounds, Bounou laughed and said, 'Honestly, I'd rather not face them, but I hope they reach the highest levels.' Tags: Al HilalClub World Cupsportsyassine bounou
Morocco World
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Walid Regragui: Yassine Bounou is Morocco's First-Choice Goalkeeper
Rabat – Walid Regragui, head coach of Morocco's national football team, has reaffirmed Yassine Bounou as his number-one goalkeeper despite the challenges the player has faced recently with Al Hilal. Speaking at a press conference today, Regragui acknowledged that Bounou has conceded many goals lately but expressed his trust in the experienced goalkeeper. 'Bounou plays for a big club and competes in the AFC Champions League. He remains my first-choice goalkeeper,' Regragui said. The coach also commended goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi, who has been performing well with RS Berkane. He recalled that both Bounou and Mohamedi have been key players for Morocco for the past seven years. 'What matters is that they respect the national team and my choices,' he added. Both goalkeepers have played a key role in the Atlas Lions' historic performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Regragui made it clear that Bounou is his primary goalkeeper but assured that if he is unavailable, Mohamedi is always ready to step in. This reminds us of Morocco's World Cup game against Belgium when Bounou was forced to withdraw just before kickoff due to illness, and Mohamedi stepped up with a solid performance and helped Morocco secure a 2-0 victory. The Moroccan coach said it is important to prepare a successor for the two players while expressing hope that they could continue playing until they turn 40. Regragui has called up Bounou, Mohamedi, and Wydad AC's Mehdi Benabid for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25. These matches are part of Morocco's journey toward securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Tags: FootballWalid Regraguiyassine bounou
