U-17 AFCON: Abdellah Ouazane – the free kick, the trophy, and the legacy

A direct free kick — clean, sharp, and driven. A crisp strike, curled with precision, that electrified the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia and left Tanzanian goalkeeper Amedi Shaha utterly helpless. In a single moment, Abdellah Ouazane did more than just extend the lead. He stamped his style, his identity, and his heritage.  

The younger brother of Zakaria,  runner-up in 2023, Abdellah reminded everyone that for the Ouazanes, football runs in the family.

At just 15, the attacking midfielder from Ajax Amsterdam scored twice in Morocco’s 3–0 win over Tanzania — a performance full of authority and maturity. Named Man of the Match, he received an honour that his older brother had also earned two years earlier, after a quarter-final win against Algeria.  

“Before I came here, my brother told me I had to go for the trophy and that I had to play well. I’m happy to have been named Man of the Match today. My brother, who is my role model, was too. Now we’ll have two of those trophies at home,” Abdellah said with a big smile.  

Raw talent in the making  

Under the spotlight, the young playmaker shone. But behind the scenes, discipline is strict. Nabil Baha, head coach of the Atlas Cubs, doesn't go easy on his gem.  

“He’s a player we count on a lot. He can make the difference. He was born in 2009 — people forget that. He’s a year younger than the others. But he plays at Ajax, and he’s full of talent,” said the former Moroccan international.  

Talent that needs constant pushing to stay sharp. “I gave him a piece of my mind at half-time. I know what he can bring us. He can win us matches, like today,” he added. “In the first match, he was decent. But in the second, I was really unhappy. He was one of those who didn’t run enough”.  

Player with Grit 

The message is clear. The potential is huge. But it still needs to be harnessed.  

“These are players you need to manage differently. Sometimes pamper them, sometimes shake them up. I told him he needs to repeat this kind of performance. If we want to go all the way, if we want to beat South Africa, we’ll need.”  

And he wrapped it up with a statement as simple as it is powerful: “These days, 100% isn’t enough. Everyone gives 100%. What we need is 120%. And he’s capable of that.”  

In Mohammedia, Abdellah Ouazane showed that at just 15 years old, you can already carry a match and embrace the role of a leader.