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Join on Telegram Rabat – According to the Flemish daily Nieuwsblad, Moroccan international footballer Bilal El Khannouss, who plays for KRC Genk, has received the Belgian Lion Award, given annually in Belgium to the best player from North Africa in the country’s First Division.
Tarik Tissoudali, who also played for KAA Gent, finished in second, followed by both Algerian Adem Zorgane of Charleroi and Youssef Challouk of KV Kortrijk in third position.
The ceremony also honored women footballers, as the Belgian Lionne Award 2023 went to the Moroccan international Sakina Ouzraoui, striker for RSC Anderlecht.
Ouzraoui is also a player in the Moroccan women’s national team, which reached the round of 16 in the Women’s World Cup for the first time in its history this past summer.
The event also paid tribute to the “Best Belgian with Arab Roots,” awarding RB Leipzig’s Belgian striker Lois Openda.
The esteemed Golden Boy Award also named El Khannouss among its 25 finalists.
Recognizing the best football player under 21 in Europe, the award is given out yearly by the Italian sports daily Tuttosport. El Khannous gained a spot on the award’s finalist list through a wildcard entry.
He recently made appearances for Morocco’s national team in the games against Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, coming in as a second half substitute for both matches.
Read also: Bilal El Khannouss On Players Moving To the Gulf: ‘It’s A Pity’
