Ouazane wondergoal increases pressure on Morocco boss Ouahbi

Abdellah Ouazane strengthened his case for more Morocco playing time by scoring a spectacular late goal for Ajax Amsterdam against Atalanta Bergamo in the Conference League on Thursday.

The 17-year-old came off the bench in Ajax’s 2-0 victory before producing a moment of individual brilliance in the third minute of stoppage time.

Ouazane collected the ball on the right side of the penalty area and beat Raoul Bellanova before firing a powerful shot from a tight angle. The effort struck the post before flying into the top corner, capping another impressive display of the young midfielder’s ability.

The goal is likely to renew debate over Ouazane’s involvement with Morocco’s senior team, particularly after he made only a limited contribution during his first international camp in October.

He played 15 minutes in the 2-0 win against Gabon, an experience he described as a “dream”. Ouazane remained an unused substitute against Lesotho and was also not brought on during the friendly against Mali.

That decision frustrated some Morocco supporters, who are eager to see more of one of the country’s most promising young players. His latest performance in Europe could increase the pressure on Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi before the squad’s November gathering.

However, the criticism of Ouahbi’s handling of the teenager needs to be viewed in context.

Despite his considerable potential, Ouazane has not yet established himself as a regular starter for Ajax. He has made nine Eredivisie appearances this season, but only two of those have been in the starting line-up.

His October call-up was also his first with Morocco’s senior side. Even highly talented players need time to adapt to the demands of international football, understand a manager’s expectations and compete for a place against established players who have already proved themselves.

Ouazane’s goal against Atalanta underlined his qualities and added to the excitement surrounding his development. But at 17, he still has time to progress, and one exceptional finish alone does not necessarily justify an immediate change to the established order in the Morocco team.