The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sent a message to Moroccan youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi following his outstanding display in Morocco's 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Brazil. The Atlas Lions and Brazil played out a 1-1 draw in their Group C clash at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 13, with Bouaddi earning widespread acclaim.
CAF Acknowledges Bouaddi's Performance
CAF took to its official X page to acknowledge Bouaddi's impressive performance during the draw against Brazil, highlighting the 18-year-old's composure on the world stage. In a statement on its official website, the African football governing body described the FC Lille star as the influential leader of Morocco's midfield.
Fans on social media also praised the teenager's fearlessness as he took on Brazil's star-studded midfield, which included Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, and later Fabinho.
Coach Ouahbi Defends Selection
Morocco national team head coach Mohamed Ouahbi justified his decision to start an 18-year-old in a World Cup match against Brazil, emphasizing that age is not a factor in his selection criteria.
"It was not a risk to play him just because he's 18. I only look at players' performance, not the age of the player. He could be 35, and if he plays well, he'll play, or 17," Ouahbi said via ESPN. "I'm not the guy to be afraid of playing youngsters; we were sure and certain that he'd have a big match, and so it wasn't a risk at all - it wasn't the kind of match for taking risks against Brazil."
Despite the public attention, Ouahbi claimed he is not "impressed" with Bouaddi's performance, as he already knows what the youngster is capable of. "He didn't impress me [tonight] because we already know what a player he is," Ouahbi added.
Bouaddi Responds to Transfer Rumours
The French-born youngster has been linked with a move away from Lille ahead of the World Cup, with Premier League champions Arsenal among the interested clubs. Bouaddi addressed the speculation after his debut.
"At the moment, I am only focused on the World Cup, and I can't answer that right now," he told The Athletic. "Of course, I'm really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me, but for now I'm only focused on the WC, and we will try to give everything to do our best."
Ismail Saibari opened the scoring for Morocco with a chip over Alisson Becker, before Vinicius Jr equalised with a brilliant goal on his 50th international appearance.
