Latest news with #YassineBounou
Ya Biladi
7 days ago
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Morocco unveils squad for friendlies against Tunisia and Benin
Estimated read time: 1' Morocco has announced the squad selected by national coach Walid Regragui for the upcoming friendly matches against Tunisia and Benin. The Atlas Lions will face Tunisia on June 6, followed by a match against Benin on June 9. Both games will be played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 (GMT+1). قائمة المنتخب الوطني المستدعاة للمقابلتين الوديتين أمام منتخبي تونس و البنين ?️Squad list of our National Team called up for the two friendly games against Tunisia ?? & Benin ?? #DimaMaghrib?? — Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) May 27, 2025 According to the list released by the Moroccan team on Tuesday, the squad includes: Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, El Mehdi Benabid. Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Omar El Hilali, Abdelkabir Abqar, Abdelhak Assal, Jawad El Yamiq, Oussama El Azzouzi, Adam Masina, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Youssef Belammari. Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Oussama Targhalline, Azzedine Ounahi, Amir Richardson, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss. Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Soufiane Rahimi, Marouane Sanadi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Youssef En-Nesyri, Hamza Igamane, Osame Sahraoui, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
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
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Al-Ahli down Al-Hilal to reach Asian Champions League final
Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Semi Final - Al Hilal v Al Ahli - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 29, 2025 Al Ahli's Franck Kessie has his shot saved by Al Hilal's Yassine Bounou from the penalty spot REUTERS/Stringer JEDDAH - Al-Ahli secured a 3-1 win over 10-man Al-Hilal to win the battle of the Saudi Pro League sides in Jeddah on Tuesday, booking a place in Saturday's final of the Asian Champions League Elite to keep their dream of a first continental title alive. Goals from Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney in the ninth and 27th minutes respectively gave Matthias Jaissle's side a two-goal lead before Salem Al-Dawsari reduced the deficit three minutes from the interval. A second yellow card for defender Kalidou Koulibaly left the four-times champions down to 10 men for the last 30 minutes and Al-Hilal crashed out despite a late penalty save by Yassine Bounou from Franck Kessie as Feras Al-Brikan netted a late third. Al-Ahli have never won the Asian title, losing in the final in 1986 and 2012, and will face either compatriots Al-Nassr or Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in the decider. The pair face off in the second semi-final on Wednesday. The home side went ahead when Roger Ibanez's incisive ball from inside his own half released Galeno down the left and the Brazilian's first-time centre was steered in by Firmino as he arrived in the six-yard box at pace. Al-Ahli were dominating and their pressure paid off in the 27th minute, although their celebrations were briefly put on hold. Riyad Mahrez's slide-rule pass released Toney behind the defence and he rolled the ball home after rounding Bounou but, while the assistant referee had raised his flag for offside, a VAR review awarded the goal to the delight of the Al-Ahli fans. With three minutes remaining in the half Al-Hilal pulled one back, despite being second-best throughout the opening 45 minutes. Renan Lodi's attempted pass along the edge of the penalty area was met by the retreating Kessie and the ball fortuitously landed at the feet of Al-Dawsari, who instinctively smashed his shot beyond Edouard Mendy. Al-Hilal's hopes of completing their comeback were scuppered on the hour mark when Koulibaly was sent off after a foul on Ibanez earned the defender a second yellow card having earlier been booked for a shuddering body check on Toney. Firmino and Galeno both hit the post with Al-Ahli seeking a third and, when Hamad Al-Tuhayfan brought down Mahrez, Kessie saw his 85th-minute penalty saved by Bounou. Substitute Al-Brikan eventually scored the third for Al-Ahli seven minutes into injury time as Al-Hilal's desperation to equalise grew, delighting the home fans at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Morocco World
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco's Goalkeeper Bounou to Reportedly Miss Tunisia, Benin Friendly Matches
Rabat — Morocco's national team coach Walid Regragui has reportedly decided to replace goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and call up a new goalkeeper. The Moroccan star will be missing for the upcoming training camp due to his commitments with Al Hilal in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Bounou is expected to miss Morocco's friendly matches against Tunisia and Benin as part of preparations for upcoming competitions, forcing Regragui to seek new options for the goalkeeper position. Reports informed that Atlas Lions' third-choice goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid will also be missing from Morocco's upcoming squad due to his participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with his club, Wydad Athletic Club. Local sports media reported that Regragui has decided to call up Moroccan football club Royal Army's (FAR AS) goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani to replace Bounou during the international camp in June. The step is part of the technical staff's broader vision to allow national goalkeepers to reveal their technical prowess, especially following Hamiani's impressive performances with the FAR AS in both the Moroccan League and the African Champions League this season. Sources revealed that the Atlas Lions' coach will also call up Maghreb de Fes's (MAS) goalkeeper Salah El Din Chehab to replace Benabid. This means Munir Mohamedi will serve as the first-choice goalkeeper during the upcoming international break. Read also: Yassine Bounou Honored in Madrid's Football Legends Museum This move is part of Regragui's efforts to expand his options in the goalkeeper position, especially with several continental and international competitions approaching, most notably the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Moroccan national team will face Tunisia on June 7, followed by a match against Benin on June 10. Both matches are part of the national football team's preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. These friendly fixtures will provide valuable testing grounds for the new goalkeepers as Morocco continues to build depth in every position ahead of important competitive matches later this year. Tags: FootballMoroccoWalid Regraguiyassine 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.
