Holders at the Angers SCO, they proved to be decisive during this 2022 World Cup and their market value has skyrocketed. Sofiane Boufal, daughter of the Roseraie district, and Azzedine Ounahi, will face the blues this December 14 under the colors of Morocco.
Sofiane Boufal was 6 years old years when he joined his first football team. It was l’Intrépide d’Angers, in the heart of the Roseraie district, south of Angers. The land is therefore within walking distance of your building.
“Here is the historic Intrepid stadium in Angers, now dedicated to the SCO”, launches Gilles Latté as he enters the field. And in front of this former coach of the Franco-Moroccan grandstand “the stairwell of the building where Sofiane, her mother, brother and sister lived. It couldn’t be closer to a football stadium!“
For Gilles Latté, Sofiane Boufal is one of those players we don’t forget. “Now he plays like when he was 8 years old, i.e. try to catch the ball, dribble, try to find a gap in the opposing team, confides this Intrepid coach. I think everyone who goes to the stadium wants to see players like that, who create football.“
The child from the Roseraie today leads Morocco’s selection in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, together with his SCO teammate, Azzedine Ounahi.
video length: 02min 00
Speakers: – Gilles Latté, former coach of Sofiane Boufal at L’intrépide d’Angers – Pierrick Capelle, SCO d’Angers midfielder – Nabil Bentaleb, SCO d’Angers midfielder – Mohamed Sifaoui, SCO Angers communications director
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©Report by Éric Aubron and Laurence Couvrand. Editing: Nathalie Saliou-Tendron. Infographic: Jean-Luc Tholle.
Within the Angevin club, which has seen Boufal evolve since 2005, the players keep their legs turned towards the championship. But of course they have in mind the feat achieved by their comrades.
I think they are living a dream there. And then we, through them, are very proud, because they are friends!
Pierrick ChapelSCO Angers midfielder
And Nabil Bentaleb agrees: “They’ve been working hard all this time to be able to achieve their goal. It’s something extraordinary, I think they don’t realize it today, but certainly when the competition is over.”
Revealed during the elimination of Spain, Ounahi would have 22 years in Barcelona’s sights. The SCO departure of the two Moroccan internationals could be registered at the end of the season or from the winter transfer window.
“There are many agents, great teams, showing interest. But for now we can not say more”, admits Mohamed Sifaoui, director of communication for the bianconeri. While waiting to write a new page in her career, Sofiane Boufal takes advantage of every moment. A childhood dream that she shares with her mother of her dancing on the field of the World.
