Azzedine Ounahi
Ounahi with Morocco in 2023
Personal information
Full name Azzedine Ounahi[1]
Date of birth (2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Casablanca, Morocco
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Marseille
Number 8
Youth career
2010–2015 Raja CA
2012 → Mirofoot Lissasfa (loan)
2015–2018 Mohammed VI Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Strasbourg B 35 (1)
2020 Avranches B 2 (1)
2020–2021 Avranches 27 (5)
2021–2023 Angers 47 (2)
2023– Marseille 20 (3)
International career‡
2018 Morocco U20 2 (1)
2022– Morocco 26 (4)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Morocco
Mediterranean Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Tarragona Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 February 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 January 2024

Azzedine Ounahi (Arabic: عز الدين أوناحي, pronounced [ʕiz ʔad.di:n u:na:ħi:]; born 19 April 2000) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Morocco national team.[2]

Ounahi made his international debut in 2022, after previously being capped by the nation's youth teams at under-20 level. He was chosen in Morocco's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. He was also picked for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 and 2023.

Club career

Early career

A former player of Raja CA and Mohammed VI Academy, Ounahi joined RC Strasbourg in 2018. In August 2020, he moved to Championnat National club Avranches.[3]

Angers

On 14 July 2021, Ligue 1 club Angers announced the signing of Ounahi on a four-year deal.[4] He made his professional debut on 15 August 2021 by scoring a goal in club's 3–0 league win against Lyon.[5]

Marseille

After attracting the interest of several top-tier clubs across Europe, thanks to his breakthrough performances for Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup,[6][7] on 29 January 2023 Ounahi officially joined fellow Ligue 1 side Marseille for an estimated fee of 8 million euros plus add-ons, signing a contract until June 2027.[8][9] On 1 February 2023, he scored his first goal for Marseille on his debut against Nantes.[10][11] On 1 November 2023, Ounahi was nominated for the 2023 African Footballer of the Year by CAF.[12]

International career

Youth

Ounahi was called up for Morocco U20 to participate in the 2018 Mediterranean Games. On 22 June 2018, he scored a goal at the 68th minute in a tie against Italy. He later went on to win the bronze medal with the team after a victory in the penalty shoot-out against Greece.[13]

Senior

On 23 December 2021, Vahid Halilhodžić gave Ounahi his first call-up to the Moroccan senior national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[14] Ounahi made his professional debut for Morocco in the 2021 African Cup of Nations in a 1–0 victory against Ghana on 10 January 2022.[15] In his fourth match with Morocco, he managed to score a double in a 4–1 victory against DR Congo in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round,[16][17] which marked his first goal with the national team.[18][19]

On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[20][21] After an impressive performance in the round of 16 game against Spain, which Morocco won on penalties, Spanish manager Luis Enrique commented on Ounahi's performance: "My God, where does this guy come from? I was pleasantly surprised by their number eight. I don't remember his name, I'm sorry…".[6][22] In the quarter-final match against Portugal, which Morocco won 1–0, no Moroccan player had more dribbles (three) or won more duels (seven) than Ounahi.[23] Morocco went on to finish fourth in the tournament.[24] During a friendly match against Brazil, which resulted in a 2–1 victory,[25] Ounahi picked up an injury after suffering a fracture in his right toe,[26] that required to undergo surgery, which resulted in an end of his football season.[27][28]

On 17 January 2024, Ounahi scored a goal in a 3–0 victory against Tanzania, marking his first ever goal in the Africa Cup of Nations.[29]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 February 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coupe de France Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Strasbourg B 2018–19 Championnat National 3 20 0 — — 20 0
2019–20 Championnat National 3 15 1 — — 15 1
Total 35 1 — — 35 1
Avranches 2020–21 Championnat National 27 5 1 0 — 28 5
Avranches B 2020–21 Championnat National 3 2 1 — — 2 1
Angers 2021–22 Ligue 1 32 2 1 0 — 33 2
2022–23 Ligue 1 15 0 0 0 — 15 0
Total 47 2 1 0 — 48 2
Marseille 2022–23 Ligue 1 7 1 2 0 — 9 1
2023–24 Ligue 1 13 2 0 0 6[a] 0 19 2
Total 20 3 2 0 6 0 28 3
Career total 131 12 4 0 6 0 141 12
  1. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 30 January 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Morocco 2022 17 2
2023 4 1
2024 5 1
Total 26 4
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ounahi goal.
List of international goals scored by Azzedine Ounahi
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 March 2022 Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco  DR Congo 1–0 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 3–0
3 12 September 2023 Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France  Burkina Faso 1–0 1–0 Friendly
4 17 January 2024 Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro, Ivory Coast  Tanzania 2–0 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Morocco U20

Individual

Orders

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Morocco (MAR)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 19. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Azzedine Ounahi at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Azzeddine Ounahi (ex-Strasbourg) signe à Avranches". 3 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Angers recrute Azzedine Ounahi". 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Angers vs. Lyon - 15 August 2021". Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "World Cup 2022: Bellingham, Gakpo, Fernandez and other breakout stars". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Azzedine Ounahi : "Garder les pieds sur terres, continuer de travailler et surtout préparer la prochaine compétition"". Angers SCO (in French). 23 December 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Azzedine Ounahi est Olympien !". Olympique de Marseille (in French). 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  9. ^ Béal, Xavier (29 January 2023). "Montant du transfert, durée du contrat, salaire : toutes les infos sur la signature d'Ounahi à l'OM". Goal.com (in French). Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  10. ^ "PLAYER RATINGS | Nantes 0-2 Marseille: Azzedine Ounahi scores on debut as OM put pressure on PSG". OneFootball (in French). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Azzedine Ounahi debuts for Marseille with flying colors". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  12. ^ "CAF announces CAF Awards 2023 Nominees for Men's Categories". CAF. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Pluie de médailles pour le Maroc aux Jeux méditerranéens de Tarragone" (in Spanish). 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Vahid Halilhodzic reveals final list of players for CAN 2022". HESPRESS English - Morocco’s leading digital media. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Morocco vs. Ghana - Football Match Summary - January 10, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Salah, Partey, Uzoho: Africa's tops & flops from the World Cup playoffs | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Azzedine Ounahi signe un doublé avec le Maroc". Alsa'Sports (in French). 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  18. ^ "المنتخب المغربي يُمطر شباك الكونغو برباعية.. ويتأهل إلى "مونديال 2022"". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 29 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  19. ^ "World Cup playoffs round-up: Portugal and Poland book their spots in Qatar finals". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Morocco World Cup 2022 squad: Who's in and who's out? | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Moroccan coach unveils list of 26 Atlas Lions in 2022 World Cup". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Azzedine Ounahi: Morocco's elegant, industrious midfielder counts Luis Enrique among his new admirers following breakout World Cup". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  23. ^ "World Cup 2022: Bellingham, Gakpo, Fernandez and other breakout stars". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Morocco WC team returns to heroes' reception". ESPN.com. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Morocco beats Brazil 2-1 in friendly". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Ounahi confirms injury during Morocco-Brazil friendly". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  27. ^ "Azzedine Ounahi out for rest of the season due to injury". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  28. ^ "Ounahi 'very disappointed' following season-ending injury". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Morocco break North Africa's AFCON curse beating Tanzania 3-0". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  30. ^ "IFFHS". www.iffhs.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  31. ^ "Les dix types de wissams royaux accordés par Mohammed VI".

External links

Olympique de Marseille – current squad
Morocco squads
Categories