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Morocco’s Best Player: The Hero of Al Rayyan, Yassine Bounou

Morocco's Best Player, Yassine Bounou, After Making a Key Penalty Save Spain's Sergio Busquets in the Round of 16

ANALYSIS – To pick the “best player” from an incredible Moroccan side that has become the “fairy-tale” story of the tournament, is a tough decision. One could choose any player across the defense, the midfield, and even the forward line, but it came down to the heroics and leadership of the Moroccan number one Yassine Bounou that gives him the edge to be called Morocco’s best player.

For the Canadian-born shot-stopper who plies his trade in Spain with Sevilla, his commanding presence and determination are what have led him to become a pillar of this robust Moroccan side, proving his worth amongst the world’s elite.

Morocco’s Best Player: The Hero of Al Rayyan, Yassine Bounou

One of the Very Best Goalkeepers Around

Considering that Real Madrid won the Champions League last year in large part thanks to their star keeper Thibaut Courtois, it might seem puzzling that Belgium’s number one did not win the award for best goalkeeper in Spain that same season.

That is because it was instead awarded to Sevilla shot-stopper Yassine Bounou, who conceded just 24 goals in 31 appearances.

Becoming only the second African keeper to win the prestigious award, it is no wonder that Bounou has been incredible at the international level.

Conceding just three goals in qualifying for Qatar 2022, Bounou was in top form going into this tournament.

Stone-Cold Between the Sticks

With the only goal scored against him being a freak own goal versus Canada in the group stage, one can say that his defense has made his life rather comfortable in goal. But when called upon, he has come up big.

His stellar display in Croatia showcased his agility and instinct, coming quickly off his line to defend a through ball and producing an incredible close-range block on Nikola Vlašić at the end of the first half to keep the game at 0-0.

Morocco saw out that game thanks to his performance, and he would have deservedly kept his place versus Belgium if it were not for a knock that he suffered beforehand and was thus replaced at the last minute.

Moment of Glory

With that light knock keeping him out at the last minute versus Belgium and being relatively untested versus Canada in the last match of the group stage, it was really against Spain that “Bono” really showcased why he is the star man.

Never afraid to take risks, he almost got himself into trouble early on versus La Furia Roja by playing the ball from his feet and passing out under press, but he nevertheless stayed focused. He made sure to make himself big and made a couple of crucial saves off Spanish set-pieces to ensure his team could take Spain all the way to pens.

His real moment of glory, of course, came in the shootout. Against a side that allegedly prepared by having each player practice 1000 penalties, things were looking bleak for Morocco. A goalkeeper is almost always second-favorite to succeed versus the penalty taker, but Bounou clearly did not care about the odds.

He saved two penalties outright and would have most likely saved the third anyways had it not hit the post because Bounou dove the right way each time. He shut out a talented Spain side and sent them packing while winning the Man of the Match award for himself.

Immense in moments of extreme pressure, Bounou has not only helped his team continue their historic run to the quarter-finals but also claim a shot at winning the award for the competition’s best keeper.

Continuing to Make History?

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With Morocco making their first-ever quarter-final run, The Atlas Lions will look towards the man between the sticks to keep them in the game versus an ever-prolific Portugal on Saturday at 6 pm local.

It will remain to be seen if this fairy-tale run by Morocco will continue into the semis, but if it does, it will be thanks to both the collective effort of the outfield and some moments of brilliance from Yassine Bounou in the net.

Felipe Vallejo

Felipe Vallejo

I am a passionate soccer fan, well-versed on all things MLS, Premier League, Ligue 1, La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A, as well as CPL (especially Forge FC). Aside from soccer, I am an avid music fan and proficient in philosophy (where I got my MA).

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