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Zakaria El Ouahdi expressed his strong will in joining the Moroccan National team in 2026 World Cup after winning the Ebony Shoe, the award dedicated to the best African player in the Belgian Pro League. Considering this triumph as a key factor tipping the scales in his favor and reinforcing his chances of joining the Moroccan squad.
“I think about the World cup every day since it is everyone’s dream. I wish to be a part of the Moroccan National Team, and I’ll do the best I can to be present there,” El Ouahdi said in a statement after winning the award.
Genk’s right-back also expressed his delight at being compared to Hakimi, the player he sees as a role model to follow in the future.
“I follow Achraf closely and he serves as an inspiration to me,” he said. “I am honored to win this award and to be among the big names that have already won this prize, such as Mbarek Boussoufa, and Romelu Lukaku.”
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El Ouahdi’s name has in recent weeks decisively emerged as one of the most decisive players in K.R.C. Genk, scoring 12 goals and recording 5 assists in 41 matches.
He is the third Moroccan to win this prize, after Mbark Boussoufa (2006, 2009, 2010) and Tarik Tissoudali in 2022.
This latest validation comes after El Ouahdi had won last year the Belgian Lion, the award given to players with North African origins in the Belgian first division.
