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Lille’s victory in the Champions League last Wednesday against Real Madrid revealed a young 17-year-old midfielder of Moroccan origin, Ayyoub Bouaddi. However, he was not the only one to participate in this feat. Osame Sahraoui also responded during the 25 minutes he spent on the pitch, helping to bring down the title holders.
It is precisely for this type of summit meeting that the new Moroccan international decided to continue his career at LOSC. In the north of France, the left winger aims to climb the ranks and flourish in a demanding championship, where it is never easy to compete against robust defenders, especially for an attacker of his size (1.70 m, 65 kg).
The international career of the native of Oslo also took an important turn when he made the decision to change his sporting nationality in order to represent Morocco. Certainly, Norway has not played in a World Cup or European Championship since 1998 and 2000. But one might have expected Sahraoui to be enthusiastic about playing alongside global stars like Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal FC) and Erling Haaland (Manchester City), with whom he had shared the pitch during of a meeting in September 2023.
Despite his years spent in Norway, Sahrawi has always been attached to his Moroccan roots. An attachment which pushed him to opt for the selection of the Atlas Lions. Walid Regragui was quick to seize the opportunity by calling him up for the 3rd and 4th days of the CAN 2025 qualifiers.
Morocco will face the Central African Republic twice, Saturday October 12 and Tuesday October 15, at the stadium of honor in Oujda. But this summons will not necessarily call for others. Like Anas Zaroury, who disappeared from the radar, Osame Sahraoui will have to face fierce competition. Does he have the means? Elements of response.
9 goals and 14 assists in 59 games with Heerenveen
Before being recruited this summer by LOSC until 2029 for approximately 8 million euros, Osame Sahraoui scored 9 goals and provided 14 assists in 59 matches with Heerenveen (Holland), a club he joined in 2023 after playing for Vålerenga, one of the most successful teams in Norway.
For a winger, it is surprising to note that he does not stand out for his ability to eliminate (46% of successful dribbles), but rather for his precision in the last gesture, completing 9 out of 10 passes in the opposing 30 meters this season with LOSC. As evidenced by his hat-trick of assists achieved in the last two Ligue 1 matches.
In Le Havre, where Oussama Targhaline plays, Osame Sahraoui played a key role in the success of his team, by demonstrating undeniable quality of movement and good vision of the game. When opening the score, the Moroccan winger wisely chose his space to make a call in the penalty area, before serving his center forward (see video).
His second assist of the match highlighted its ability to be just right in tight spaces. Found at the entrance to the penalty area, Osame Sahraoui was able to launch Jonathan David with a wonderful outside right over the opposing defense (see video).
Rebalancing the Atlas Lions attack
Despite his first goal since his return from a long period of unavailability due to a knee injury, Zakaria Aboukhlal was unable to avoid the defeat of Toulouse Football Club on Saturday October 4. The fault in particular lies with Osame Sahraoui, who judiciously served Angel Gomes a splendid ladle for the equalizing goal, thus launching his team towards victory.
“Previously, he had made good comebacks and now he is confirming that as a beginner. It was very interesting. Now, what is needed is repetition of good performances. This is the hardest part of high-level football,” judged his coach, Bruno Genesio, in a post-match press conference.
Osame Sahraoui’s precision in the last 30 meters could prove valuable for the national team, especially against well-organized defensive blocks. Its contribution could contribute to rebalance the attack of the Atlas Lions, which tends to focus more on the right.
With this in mind, the left winger will need to correct his decision-making deficiencies. Indeed, if he is not an expert in dribbling, it is more a question of choice than technique. On several occasions this season, Osame Sahraoui has chosen to multiply his dribbles when the game would have required him to release the ball more quickly.
It is no coincidence that he loses on average ten balls per match. As evidenced by the screenshot below. Osame Sahraoui had the possibility of turning the game on the opposite side to relieve his teammates asphyxiated by Madrid’s pressing. But against all odds, he preferred to retrace his steps and lost the ball.
A sequence of play which had no consequences on the scoreboard, but which attests to his margin of progress and the gaps which he must erase in order to do well, particularly against Eliesse Ben Seghir et Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.
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