The two Moroccans, Onahi and Boufal, from the glory of the World Cup to the “fight for survival”

After being among the best players at the World Cup in Qatar, in which they reached the semifinals with Morocco in a result that is the first of its kind for an African or Arab team, it will be difficult for Sofiane Boufal and Azzedine Onahi to adapt to the idea of ​​returning to their team, Angers, from which he is struggling to stay in the French league.

Angers will resume activity in the French league against hosts Ajaccio on Wednesday, looking for only their third win of the season out of 16 games, but the bottom of the ‘Ligue 1’ table will be without its two stars Moroccans, who will in principle return on the 31st of this month, unless their destinations are changed in two agreements that could lead them to a new team.

In light of its drowning in successive defeats, the financial crisis and the sexual assault case, in which its boss Saeed Chaaban is being tried, Angers badly needs the return of its two Moroccan stars, who are considered one of the best dribblers in the world today.

“The players from the World Cup will be there on 31 December,” interim manager Abed Bouhazma told a news conference on Monday, as Boufal deleted any indications that he was playing for Angers in his accounts on the websites. of social networking, while Shaaban seemed busy trying to get the best of it, a possible deal to give up on my side.

In an interview with the “RTL” channel that he conducted 10 days ago, Shaaban revealed: “We have offers”, adding that “they come from everywhere. Italy, Spain, England, France… Our desire is to reach an agreement in January, but with the hope of staying with us”. Until the end of the season.”

“We will make the right choice.”

On Angers’ website, Onahi focused on the issue of acknowledging the club’s gratitude towards him, saying: “It was Angers who gave me the opportunity to play at the World Cup and to be able to reveal and showcase my qualities to the world.”

As for other issues, “I am in daily contact with the president (Shaaban). We will make the right choice for my career and for the club”.

According to many media, the transfer of the player, currently linked to Angers until 2026, could exceed 30 million euros, and it seems that Napoli, Italy, Leicester City, Spain, Sevilla or even Marseille, France, are among the clubs interested to his services.

Praise has come from teams from all sides, the most prominent of which has been that of Spain manager Luis Enrique, whose former club Barcelona has shown interest in contracting with the Moroccan up-and-comer, according to Spanish newspaper ‘Mundo Deportivo “.

Enrique, who was sacked from his post soon after being eliminated by Morocco in the final price, said that the player he liked best in the ranks of the “Atlas Lions” was Onahi, and said: “The player with the number 8 played amazingly and didn’t stop running”, explaining that he had spoken to his coaching staff about it. And surprised by the level of him.

Onahi and Boufal shone at the World Cup, prompting Shaaban to prepare to sell them on winter or summer away trips as long as their commercial value increases. We find solutions.”

He added: “I had a meeting with the board and they told me that Onahi is considered a jewel due to his young age and remarkable brilliance. I tell myself that Boufal and Onahi will leave in January or June. We are preparing for everything. “

Onahi was born on 19 April 2000 in Casablanca into a footballing family and joined the ranks of Raja Casablanca for juniors, before transferring in 2015 to the Mohammed VI Academy on the outskirts of Sale.

In 2018, he moved to French Strasbourg, but did not play any matches, then joined reserve team “OS” Avranches in the fifth division on 3 August 2020 on a free transfer, and proved to be the playmaker of the team by showing his technical skills, dribbling and assists.

Boufal son of the club

Then he moved to Angers in July 2021 for four years, and established himself in his squad when he was invited by Bosnian coach Wahid Halilodjic to defend the colors of the “Atlas Lions” in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.

For Boufal, his departure from Angers will be more bitter than Onahi, as he is the son of the club, and was spherically established in its ranks until he stirred the feelings of the world by dancing with his mother Zubaida on the pitch after qualifying for the semifinals.

Boufal joined the club aged ten and made his professional debut nine years later.

He then starred in the ranks of Lille (2015-2016) before experiencing English disappointment during his move to Southampton from 2016-2020 which prompted him to return to Angers.

And if the player often suffers physically, he always proves that he hasn’t lost any of his technical qualities, which were enough to reserve him a fundamental place in the African Cup of Nations squad.

At the age of twenty-nine, Boufal is linked to Angers until 2024, but according to many media he has received several offers from Gulf clubs, which could put an end to his second adventure with the club of his footballing beginnings before he reaches the end of this decade.