Why ISL clubs should sign more Moroccan players?

Moroccan sensation Alaeddine Ajaraie has set the ISL on fire this season

The Indian Super League (ISL) has come a long way since its inception in 2014. Having expanded to 13 clubs this season, the competition has become quite fierce in India’s top-division football league.

Over the years, the Spanish flavour has dominated the ISL. Nine of 12 Cups have been won by a team having a Spanish manager. Former ATK and Mohun Bagan Super Giant manager Antonio Habas has been the most successful among the lot having won three ISL Cups.

With quite a few Spanish managers at the helm, the majority of the foreign signings have also been from the Iberian nation. However, Indian Super League clubs could consider shifting their priority to securing Moroccan players instead, given the influence they have had on the league in recent seasons.

Who are some of the great Moroccan players to have played in the ISL?

Among the current crop of Moroccan players, NorthEast United’s Alaeddine Ajaraie is without doubt the stand-out pick. The 31-year-old has scored 11 goals and has provided 4 assists in 10 ISL games so far this season. Owing to his performances the Moroccan is also leading the race for the Golden Boot.

Noah Sadaoui is another Moroccan sensation who has been making headlines in the ISL. The Kerala Blasters star represented FC Goa for a couple of seasons before making a move to the Yellow Brigade in the summer transfer window. Overall, Noah has scored 23 goals and has provided 17 assists in 48 ISL games since 2022.

Former Chennaiyin FC player Abdenasser El Khayati was another name that made headlines in the 2022-23 ISL season. The Dutch-Moroccan midfielder scored 9 goals and provided five assists in 12 ISL matches for Marina Machans. Khayati was also part of Mumbai City in the 2023-24 season, however, his time was cut short due to an injury.

Hugo Boumous and Ahmed Jahouh of Odisha FC are other big names from the African nation. Both players have been part of the league since 2017 and have won almost everything in Indian football. Boumous, a French citizen of Moroccan descent, has even won the Indian Super League Golden Ball in 2019-20.

Have NorthEast United cracked the code with Moroccan players?

Juan Pedro Benali’s NorthEast United currently have three Moroccan players in their squad. Apart from their poster boy Alaeddine Ajaraie, whom they signed this summer, the Highlanders had also retained Mohammed Bemammer and Hamza Regragui from last season.

The three Moroccans played an important role in helping the club win the Durand Cup earlier this year. Currently, NorthEast United are placed fourth in the Indian Super League table and are being considered one of the strong contenders to win the league this season.

Why should ISL teams pick Moroccan players?

The likes of Ajaraie, Noah, Boumous, and El Khayati have shown how skillful and technically sound the Moroccan players can be. Climate-wise too, It has been easier for these players to transition to Indian conditions when compared to players from European nations.

Morocco as a footballing nation has been on the rise in recent years. They are currently ranked 14th in the FIFA rankings and are striving to improve further. The Atlas Lions also became the first African team to reach the semifinals of a FIFA World Cup in 2022.

The ISL is getting better and tougher with every passing season. Hence clubs could consider scouting and adding more Moroccan stars to help their chances of winning the league in the coming seasons.

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