Zakaria El Ouahdi
![]() El Ouahdi in 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | (2001-12-31) 31 December 2001 (age 22) | |||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Hoboken, Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Right-winger, right-back | |||||||||||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Genk | |||||||||||||||||||
Number | 77 | |||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||
2011–2013 | Beerschot VAC | |||||||||||||||||||
2013–2018 | Zulte Waregem | |||||||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | Manchester IFA | |||||||||||||||||||
2019–2020 | K. Berchem Sport | |||||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | K. Rupel Boom | |||||||||||||||||||
2021 | RWD Molenbeek | |||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||
2021–2023 | RWD Molenbeek | 55 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||
2023– | Genk | 14 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023– | Morocco U23 | 19 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 August 2024 |
Zakaria El Ouahdi (born 31 December 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-winger or a right-back. for Belgian Pro League club Genk. Born in Belgium, he represents Morocco internationally at youth level.
Early life
El Ouahdi was born in Hoboken in the Antwerp Province in a family of eight children. His parents are of Moroccan descent.[1]
Club career
In June 2021, El Ouadhi joined the under-21 side of RWD Molenbeek.[2] After good performances, El Ouadhi was regularly invited to train with the first team, and was awarded his first professional contract on 9 September 2021.[3]
On 14 August 2021, he made his professional debut in Challenger Pro League in RWD Molenbeek's 3–1 victory against Royal Excel Mouscron.[4] On 3 October, he scored his first goal in professional, awarding a 2-1 win for his club against Deinze.[5]
On 12 March 2023, El Ouadhi scored his first career hattrick against Club NXT, offering an important 3-2 win for RWD Molenbeek for their fight for promotion.[6][7] He terminated the 2022-23 season by winning the league with RWD Molenbeek and gained a promotion to the Jupiler Pro League.[8][9] El Ouadhi named was as Molenbeek's player of the season and figured in the league's best XI of the season.[10]
On 5 September 2023, El Ouahdi signed for Genk on an initial three-year deal with the option for a further twelve months.[11]
International career
Holding both Belgian and Moroccan citizenship, El Ouadhi chose to represent Morocco in international level. On 9 June 2023, he was called up by coach Issame Charaï in Morocco U-23 squad for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.[12] El Ouadhi appeared in four out of five matches during the tournament, and scored one goal against Mali U-23 in the semi-final match.[13] Morocco U-23 won the tournament as El Ouadhi figured in the competition's team of the tournament as the best right-back.[14][15]
Honours
RWD Molenbeek
Morocco U-23
- U-23 Africa Cup of Nations: 2023[14]
- Summer Olympics Bronze Medal: 2024[16]
Individual
- Challenger Pro League best XI: 2022–23[10]
- U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the tournament: 2023[15]
References
- ^ "Zakaria El Ouahdi, le chouchou du stade Machtens" (in French). La DH Les Sports+. 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Twee jaar na zijn komst heeft Zakaria El Ouahdi de titel met RWDM beet: "Nooit gedacht dat het zo snel zou gaan"" (in Flemish). Het Nieuwsblad. 14 May 2023.
- ^ "D1B: Zakaria El Ouahdi signe son premier contrat pro au RWDM". sudinfo.be (in French). 9 September 2021.
- ^ "RWD Molenbeek 3-1 Excel Mouscron - 14 août 2021 / Division 1-B 2021/2022". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Deinze 1-2 RWD Molenbeek - 03 octobre 2021 / Division 1-B 2021/2022". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "RWDM vs. Club Brugge II - 12 March 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Le RWDM se rapproche de la montée grâce à un triplé de Zakaria El Ouahdi". BX1 (in French). 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Molenbeek, champion de D2 belge, promu en Pro League" (in French). L'Équipe. 14 May 2023.
- ^ a b "D1B – El Ouahdi aux anges après le sacre du RWDM: "Vivre ces sensations à mon âge, c'est fantastique"". sudinfo.be (in French). 14 May 2023.
- ^ a b "D1B - Equipe de l'Année // AILIER DROIT : Zakaria El Ouahdi (RWDM)". www.proximus.be (in French). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "TWEE NIEUWE GEZICHTEN ARRIVEREN IN DE CEGEKA ARENA" [TWO NEW FACES ARRIVE AT THE CEGEKA ARENA]. www.krcgenk.be/nl (in Dutch). 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "CAN U23: la liste des Lionceaux dévoilée, avec El Khannouss et Ezzalzouli". Le360 Sport (in French). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "CAN U23 : Le Maroc en finale au détriment du Mali et se qualifie pour les JO - La Vie éco". lavieeco.com (in French). 5 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Le Maroc remporte la CAN U23 au bout de la prolongation". SOFOOT.com (in French). 9 July 2023.
- ^ a b "CAN U23: L'équipe type de la compétition dévoilé". Africa Foot United (in French). 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Egypt U23 vs Morocco U23: Olympics". BBC Sport. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
External links
- Zakaria El Ouahdi at Soccerway
- v
- t
- e
- 1 Van Crombrugge
- 3 Mujaid
- 6 Smets
- 8 Heynen
- 9 Zeqiri
- 10 El Khannous
- 11 Oyen
- 14 Sor
- 15 Claes
- 17 Hrošovský
- 18 Kayembe
- 19 Oh
- 20 Karetsas
- 21 Bangoura
- 22 Manguelle
- 23 Steuckers
- 24 Sattlberger
- 27 Nkuba
- 32 Adedeji-Sternberg
- 34 Palacios
- 39 Penders
- 44 Kongolo
- 46 Cuesta
- 77 El Ouahdi
- 90 Bonsu Baah
- 99 Arokodare
- Manager: Fink