The UNAF under-20 tournament, held recently in Egypt, allowed the Moroccan selection, under the leadership of Mohamed Ouahbi, to brilliantly secure its ticket for the final phase of the African Cup of Nations. category. But beyond this qualification, the competition revealed promising talents, like Mouad Dahhak, a 19-year-old prodigy trained at the Mohammed VI Football Academy.
Dahhak established himself as one of the rising stars of Moroccan football during this competition. On the pitch, he shone with his exceptional vision of the game, his speed of execution and his ability to read each movement intelligently. His sharp infiltrations, combined with remarkable precision in his passes, make him a complete player, capable, single-handedly, of changing the course of a match.
On Saturday, against Libya, his impact was undeniable: a penalty converted with composure in the first half to open the scoring, an assist in the second half and a high-flying performance throughout the match. It is therefore no surprise that he was voted “Man of the Match” for the second time in the competition. Indeed, the young UTS striker had already made an impression a few days earlier against Egypt by distinguishing himself with an exemplary performance and then against Tunisia by scoring a decisive goal.
If Dahhak is so attractive, it is thanks to its ability to combine elegance and efficiency. A versatile attacker, he knows how to be decisive in the zone of truth while actively participating in the construction of the game. For many observers, there is no doubt that this young player has the potential necessary to evolve at the highest level in Europe . His profile perfectly matches the requirements of the major European leagues. Remaining confined in Botola, even within a prestigious club, could seem like too narrow a setting for the dazzling talent of Mouad Dahhak. His future naturally seems to point towards Europe, where the demands of the biggest leagues would provide fertile ground for refining his qualities. Evolving in an environment that is both competitive and structured would allow him to perfect his technical register, perfect his physical skills and acclimatize to the upper echelons of world football.
In any case, the spotlight is now on Mouad Dahhak. His performances in Egypt have not gone unnoticed and his profile, halfway between an instinctive attacker and a thoughtful leader, is already attracting the attention of European recruiters. Will he be able to transform his potential into true international success? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain for this young striker: the best is yet to come.
Mehdi Ouassat
