AP reports that Morocco’s Boufal and Ziyech, who play as wingers or attacking midfielders in the national team, are expected to score goals in the World Cup.
The same source describes Boufal as “a talent, albeit inconsistent,” citing that as a professional 29-year-old football player, he is entering his peak years. Boufal’s performance with the French Angers SCO in the past three years was great, as he scored four goals in 2022/2023, 11 in 2021/2022, and 1 in 2020/2021.
[bs-quote quote=”Ziyech and Boufal should get plenty of scoring chances if Achraf Hakimi is in form. The Paris Saint-Germain right back is one of the best attacking fullbacks in world soccer and has pace, skill, good passing and an eye for shooting with eights goals in 53 games for Morocco.” style=”default” align=”left” color=”” author_name=”Jerome Pugmire” author_job=”AP Journalist” author_avatar=”” author_link=””][/bs-quote]
Hakim Ziyech, nicknamed “The Wizard” by Ajax supporters, plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Chelsea Club in Premier League. He is making a comeback to the Moroccan national team after former Atlas Lions coach Vahid Halilhodzic dropped him, stating that “a player who refuses to train, who refuses to play, who feigns injury, for me the story is over.”
Walid Regragui, Vahid Halilhodzic’s successor, recalled Ziyech and included him in the strategy adopted in Morocco’s match with Croatia, putting him on the right and Boufal on the left with En-Nesyri in the middle, which was a success.
AP mentions other players such as Younes Belhanda, whose “slick passing might help En-Nesyri rediscover his scoring touch.” Adam Masina, who suffered a ruptured ligament in his right knee, was also brought up since he may be ready by the time the World Cup takes place.
This will be Morocco’s sixth World Cup since its first appearance in 1970.