With around two months of the European league season already underway, there have been some standout performances from across the continent by a selection of Moroccans that deserve to receive some recognition. Of course, some of these players are expected to be playing at this high level whereas others have come as a welcome surprise.
Here are five Moroccans who have started the season on fire.
Hakim Ziyech- Ajax
There is absolutely no great shock to see Hakim Ziyech continuing his fabulous form for Ajax into the 2019/20 campaign. However, after his underwhelming performance at AFCON, especially with that penalty miss, he looks to have moved on from that when it comes to his performances for his club.
In his 8 Eredivisie matches this season, Ziyech has scored 4 and assisted 5 goals already, with his WhoScored rating of 8.4 being the highest overall in the league as Ajax sit at the top of the table.
The 26-year-old has also helped Ajax to a perfect start in the UEFA Champions League, assisting with a pinpoint corner in the 3-0 home victory over Lille and scoring a stunning opening goal at the Mestalla as Ajax beat Valencia by the same scoreline.
A foot injury rules him out of the October international friendlies, but hopefully for the November AFCON 2021 qualifiers Hakim Ziyech can take his league form to the national team.
Achraf Hakimi- Borussia Dortmund
Now into the second year of his two year loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, Achraf Hakimi has been brilliant playing in a variety of positions for BVB this season. Having played most of 2018/19 at left back, he has been deployed at left back, right back and left midfield and to great effect.
Hakimi was limited to substitute appearances in the opening two Bundesliga games, but regained his place in the first eleven and has started every game since. He has contributed to 3 goals (2 goals and 1 assist) in the league this season, but it has been his performances in the UEFA Champions League that have got people talking.
Against Barcelona, the 20-year-old started at right back, helping to keep a clean sheet against an attack including Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez in a 0-0 draw. Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre chose to play Hakimi at left midfield at Slavia Prague, and the Moroccan was the match winner, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win. Both goals showed his rapid pace to get in behind a defence and then the composure to finish 1-on-1 in pressurised situations.
Could this be a position he could play for the national team in the future?
Amine Harit- Schalke 04
After being named 'Bundesliga Rookie of the Year' for Schalke in the 2017/18 season, there was an expectation that Amine Harit would really push on last year. Unfortunately, due to both on and off the field problems, this failed to come to fruition, with just 1 goal and 1 assist to his name in 18 league appearances.
In contrast, Harit has started the 2019/20 campaign in stunning form under new head coach David Wagner, scoring 4 and assisting 2 in Schalke's opening 7 league games. He has been used in a variety of positions in the midfield, with Wagner using him both in central and wide left areas so far this campaign. The way he has been dribbling at opponents with pace and finding an end product, whether that be scoring or assisting, could be vital for the Moroccan national team as this has been severely lacking, especially at AFCON 2019.
It has been great to see Harit back with a smile on his face playing with confidence and freedom. It will be interesting to see how Vahid Halilhodzic uses him in the national team setup.
Yunis Abdelhamid- Reims
At 32 years of age, Yunis Abdelhamid would seem to be in the twilight of his career, however he is still performing remarkably well for Reims in Ligue 1. The centre back, who played every minute in the league last season, has continued to be a mainstay in an impressive Reims defence.
Abdelhamid has started all 9 Ligue 1 games this season and kept a league high 6 clean sheets, with the most noticeable being in the 2-0 away victory over PSG where he captained the side. What he lacks in his pace he makes up for with his experience and defensive awareness.
Now Medhi Benatia has retired and Romain Saiss is injured, the October friendlies could be a perfect opportunity for Abdelhamid to cement his place in the heart of the Morocco defence.
Rachid Alioui- Angers
After mostly being used as an impact sub for Nimes last season, Rachid Alioui moved to fellow Ligue 1 side Angers in the summer on a free transfer and is already making his mark for his new side.
The striker has already hit 4 goals in the league this season, which is just 1 less than his total for the whole of last season. His standout performance has to be in the 2-0 away win against Toulouse, where Alioui scored both goals after coming off the bench. The first goal was particularly special, rifling home an incredible free-kick over the wall and into the top corner.
His performances have helped to lift Angers to 3rd in Ligue 1, and with Youssef En-Nesyri having a poor start at Leganes in so far this season, Alioui has to be Morocco's most in-form striker at the moment. We will have to wait and see if he can replicate his club form on the international stage.
