Ajax teenager Abdellah Ouazane puts Morocco selection hopes firmly in the spotlight

Abdellah Ouazane strengthened his case for a first Morocco senior call-up with two assists for Ajax in front of national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi, while making clear that his international future lies with the Atlas Lions rather than the Netherlands.

Ouahbi was in the stands at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Thursday as Ajax secured qualification at the expense of FC Sion with a 5-3 victory in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off.

The Morocco coach had travelled to the Netherlands during a European scouting tour after receiving encouraging reports about Ouazane, who has made a striking start to the season with the Amsterdam club.

The 17-year-old, who operates on the left wing, delivered another influential performance under the watchful eye of Ouahbi. He now has four goal contributions in seven matches, having previously registered an assist against Vojvodina.

Ouazane scored a fine goal in the league two weeks ago during Ajax’s 2-2 draw with Heerenveen on 16 August. Against FC Sion, he added two more assists to underline his growing importance to the side.

His first decisive contribution came in first-half stoppage time, when he created the opportunity for Tolu Arokodare. Ouazane then produced his most eye-catching moment shortly after the interval.

He began the move on the left and combined with a well-timed one-two before beating two opponents. After advancing into the area, he picked out the Nigeria forward with a cut-back, allowing Arokodare to score his second goal in the 51st minute.

The performance will have been difficult for Ouahbi to overlook as he considers his squad for Morocco’s next international assignments. Ouazane could now be in contention for a senior debut during the September international window, when Morocco are due to face Gabon and Lesotho in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on 25 and 26 September.

Ouazane also used his post-match media duties to make his international preference clear. The teenager spoke about his dream of representing the Atlas Lions and definitively closed the door on playing for the Netherlands.

That decision could disappoint the Dutch, who were also entitled to hope of securing his services. Ouazane was born in Amsterdam and remains eligible to represent the Oranje.

His latest display came after an already promising rise at youth international level. Ouazane was named the most valuable player at the last Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, and his form for Ajax has now brought him to the attention of Morocco’s senior set-up.

For Ouahbi, Thursday’s match offered a close-up view of a player whose influence is increasing rapidly. For Ouazane, it was another opportunity to show that his ambitions extend beyond club football and that he is ready to pursue a future with Morocco.