Former Maghreb Fez coach Pablo Franco backs Al Ahly new signing Soufiane Benjedida to shine

Former Maghreb Fez head coach Pablo Franco has expressed his confidence in the ability of Soufiane Benjedida to succeed at Egyptian giants Al Ahly, describing the Moroccan striker as a forward with exceptional goalscoring qualities.

Benjedida recently completed his move to the Cairo-based club after an impressive spell in Moroccan football, where he rediscovered his form and established himself as one of the standout attackers in the domestic league.

Franco, who previously worked with the striker at Maghreb Fez, believes Al Ahly have secured the services of a player with the quality and mentality required to perform at the highest level.

The Spanish tactician witnessed Benjedida’s development firsthand last season and played a key role in helping the forward unlock his full potential after a difficult period during his time in Europe.

During the 2025/26 campaign, Benjedida enjoyed a remarkable season under Franco, making 31 appearances across all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing two assists.

His goals proved decisive as Maghreb Fez achieved a historic milestone by winning the Moroccan league title, ending a long wait for domestic success.

Franco praised the striker’s technical ability, finishing skills and attitude, while highlighting the personal qualities that make him an even more valuable addition to any squad.

“Benjedida is a striker with great scoring abilities, and he is also a wonderful person on a human level,” Franco said.

The former Maghreb Fez coach explained that Benjedida arrived at the club after experiencing challenges in Europe, where limited playing opportunities affected his confidence and goal production.

“We succeeded in making the best possible use of his abilities, especially since he came to us after difficult experiences in his European journey, where he did not participate much and was unable to score goals,” he added.

Franco revealed that the club quickly identified Benjedida’s strengths and worked on creating the right environment for him to regain his confidence and show his true ability.

“We quickly discovered his potential and understood his strengths. He was very committed and hardworking, and he had an amazing season during which he scored 20 fantastic goals. He was a key element in our winning the Moroccan league title after a 41-year absence,” he explained.

The striker’s impressive performances attracted interest from several clubs before Al Ahly moved to secure his signature, viewing him as a valuable addition to their attacking options.

Franco believes the move to one of Africa’s biggest clubs represents an excellent opportunity for Benjedida to continue his progress and compete at a higher level.

Commenting on the transfer, he added: “Any team that signs him will be lucky to have him in their ranks.”

Al Ahly will now hope that Benjedida can replicate the form he showed in Morocco and provide additional firepower as they prepare for another challenging season across domestic and continental competitions.

With his goalscoring record, determination and experience of overcoming setbacks, the Moroccan forward arrives in Cairo with strong backing from a coach who knows his qualities better than most.