Rabat offered a first glimpse of Morocco’s next generation when Abdellah Ouazane stepped onto the pitch against Gabon. At 17, the Ajax teenager entered an established dressing room quietly, then left it with a place in the record books and growing expectations around his name.
Key takeaways
- Ouazane made his senior Morocco debut in the 2-0 win over Gabon on 25 September in Rabat.
- He became Morocco’s second-youngest player in an official match, behind Hachim Mastour.
- The Amsterdam-born attacking midfielder chose Morocco in July after representing both Morocco and the Netherlands at youth level.
- He was named player of the tournament as Morocco won the 2025 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
- Ajax promoted him to the first team after a proposed move to Real Madrid collapsed following a medical issue that was not confirmed in a later Dutch assessment.
A quiet debut among the Atlas Lions
Ouazane replaced Abde Ezzalzouli in the 76th minute against Gabon, a late introduction that carried considerable significance. Only Mastour had represented Morocco at a younger age in an official fixture, having made his debut at 16 against Libya in 2015.
The comparison is one Morocco will hope goes no further. Mastour was once viewed as one of AC Milan’s brightest prospects but did not fulfil the expectations placed upon him. Ouazane, however, arrives with a rapidly growing body of evidence behind him.
He said his first senior camp was above all an occasion to enjoy. “It was simply a pleasure,” he explained. “At first I was fairly quiet. I was taking it in, looking around and realising the players I was sharing the pitch with.”
Ipswich Town centre-back Issa Diop noticed the teenager’s reserve and sought him out. Ouazane recalled Diop asking why he was so silent, before encouraging him to express himself when the ball arrived. Diop’s message was simple: show his dribbling ability and take responsibility in attack, with the more experienced players ready to provide cover behind him.
Ajax rise and a route towards 2030
Born in Amsterdam in January 2009, Ouazane spent time in youth international football for both countries before committing to the nation of his parents in July. His reputation had already surged during the 2025 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he was voted the tournament’s outstanding player after Morocco beat Mali in the final on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
His club path has moved just as quickly. Ouazane played above his age group with Ajax’s Under-19 side during the 2024-25 campaign and was close to joining Real Madrid at the end of that season, with an agreement reportedly in place. The move did not go through after his medical examination raised concerns. A subsequent assessment in the Netherlands found no health abnormality.
Ajax then moved decisively, bringing him into the first-team group during the summer under Spanish coach Michel. Following Mika Godts’ departure for Paris Saint-Germain, Ouazane has been deployed on the flanks, where Ajax are looking to develop his acceleration, defensive work and tactical flexibility.
His preferred territory remains central midfield, either as a number eight or a number 10. He underlined that instinct on 16 August, scoring in his first official senior Ajax appearance on the opening Eredivisie matchday. After winning possession high up the pitch, he curled a strike from outside the area into the top corner, a goal that quickly spread online.
Nabil Baha, who coached Ouazane with Morocco’s Under-17s, highlighted the teenager’s decision-making rather than just his technical flair. “For his age, Abdellah has a very high football intelligence,” Baha said. “He can read quick transitions in midfield and select the right option, whether that means playing early, retaining the ball or carrying it forward.”
His profile has been likened more closely to Kevin De Bruyne than to a conventional winger. In time, he could compete for Morocco’s midfield places with Bilal El Khannous, 22, and Azzedine Ounahi, 26. Alongside Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, already a Morocco regular at 19, Ouazane is targeting a place at the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain.
