When Morocco kicked off their historic campaign against Croatia, the number 8 on Ounahi’s back seemed like just a number. By the time Morocco defeated Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals—becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals—the world knew his name.
Ounahi was not the strongest. He was not the tallest. But wearing the Morocco No 8, he exhibited a footballing intelligence that left pundits speechless. His dribbling was chaotic yet controlled; his work rate was relentless. In a tournament dominated by defensive organization (Morocco conceded only one goal—an own goal—before the semi-finals), Ounahi was the creative release valve.
Opponents couldn’t take the ball off him. Against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Luka Modrić (Croatia), and Kylian Mbappé (France), Ounahi dribbled with a low-center-of-gravity grace that evoked Andrés Iniesta. His work rate was phenomenal: in the quarter-final against Portugal, Ounahi covered over 12 kilometers, completed 90% of his passes, and made more ball recoveries than any midfielder on the pitch. The Morocco No 8 was everywhere—tackling, turning, and launching counter-attacks. morocco no 8
Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan legend, famously dubbed Ounahi “the biggest discovery of the World Cup.” Suddenly, scouts from Barcelona, Napoli, and Ligue 1 giants were all asking the same question: Who is the man in the Morocco No 8 jersey?
While Ounahi and El Haddaoui are the bookends of this legacy, several other players have briefly donned the Morocco No 8 with distinction: When Morocco kicked off their historic campaign against
While Ounahi is the current standard-bearer, the legacy of the number 8 runs deep in Moroccan football history. Unlike the flamboyant number 10s (think Mustapha Hadji), the Moroccan number 8 has historically been reserved for the Moujahid (fighter)—the engine room.
Before Ounahi, the Morocco No 8 was worn by legends of a different era. Abdelkader El Brazi, the goalkeeper from the 1970 World Cup, famously wore the number 8 in an era when numbering was fixed by position rather than hierarchy. But in the modern era, two players defined the role: Ounahi’s style is different—more incisive
Ounahi’s style is different—more incisive, more vertical—but he carries the same responsibility: to be the link between defense and attack.