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Rabat – Morocco’s football star Yassine Bounou is again making international headlines for his heroic performance during the Europa League final against Roma.
On Wednesday, the football player saved Sevilla from some of the near-certain goals from Roma’s key players throughout the Europa League final game– both during regular time and the eventual penalty shoot-out.
The performance resulted in Bounou, also known as Bono in Spanish league, being named as Hankook Player of the UEFA Europa League final game.
“The 32-year-old was chosen by the UEFA Technical Observer panel following his “decisive penalty saves” to deny Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibañez as Sevilla won 4-1 on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw,’ the UEFA website said.
The Atlas Lion’s eye-catching performance is now the topic for many international news headlines and fans, who recalled Bounou’s fairy tale performances during the 2022 World Cup.
“Bounou’s World Cup mode activated,” one Instagram user wrote in a comment.
Spanish news outlet Football Espana joined fans and other media sources to celebrate Yassine Bounou, stressing that the international goalkeeper was “Sevilla’s hero in the shoot-out.”
The news outlet also reminisced about the player’s outstanding appearances for Morocco at the World Cup.
“Bono also starred in a penalty shoot-out in Qatar, helping Morocco overcome Spain in the last 16, and he recalled that experience in Budapest,” Football Espana added.
Following the win, a proud Bounou and his Moroccan teammate Youssef En-Nesyri posed for a picture with the Europa League trophy while they were wrapped in a Moroccan flag.
Commenting on his performance during the final game, Bounou said “I have already lived moments like this and I understood that I needed to stay calm today. It’s been a year with a lot of emotions, with the World Cup, then Sevilla and I needed to take it easy for that.”
Bounou made several similar remarks, including in a recently published interview with FIFA+.
During the interview, Bounou opened up about his World Cup memories, stressing his readiness to experience another “incredible” future adventure with the Atlas lions.
“The streets were full of fans, and we could feel something exceptional happening. In our minds, we were only thinking of reaching the final. It was not possible but we had done something incredible,” the Atlas Lion said, recalling the unforgettable World Cup adventures with Morocco.
Bounou’s latest performances silenced the skeptics, who doubted the football player’s performances during challenges his club faced this season
The player’s cup final heroics defied all speculations, leaving no room for doubt.
Bounou has been also expressing attachment to Sevilla, despite numerous offers from other clubs.
“Sevilla has given me a lot, and I also do my best to give it back what it gave me,” the goalkeeper said, stressing that he is not “thinking about anything else. It is a big team and I will do my best to give it the level I’m required to.”
