Portrait

2022 World Cup: Yassine Bounou, the discretion and efficiency of a goalkeeper

Yassine Bounou, the goalkeeper of the Moroccan selection, shone in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup won against Spain.

© REUTERS/LEE SMITH

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

4 mins

Yassine Bounou, one of the heroes of Morocco's qualification for the quarter-finals, is not one of the most publicized goalkeepers in Europe.

However, the Moroccan doorman, who keeps the cages of Sevilla FC, has plenty of arguments to be on the front of the stage.

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From our special envoy to Qatar,

For a long time, the Moroccan people will remember him, his youthful face, his smile.

And above all of this discretion, which is often the hallmark of the great.

With his meter ninety-one, Yassine Bounou, 31, entered the history of Moroccan football on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Date on which he stopped two shots on goal against Spain and sent the Lions of the Atlas in the quarter-finals, for the first time since their first participation in a World Cup.

During the game, "Bono" also boxed two tricky free kicks from Dani Olmo (55th, 90th + 5).

He's a top goalkeeper

 "

We played with our weapons, and our players wanted a feat.

It's not easy to stay focused for 120 minutes, against a Spanish team who dominate the ball well, who have possession

 , ”he said in front of a swarm of microphones.

Shooting on goal is also a bit of luck 

," he also slipped with disconcerting humility.

He's a top goalkeeper.

He masters the face-to-face, he goes quickly on the ground, he has a great foot and aerial game too.

Above all, he is cold-blooded.

I'm not surprised at what he does.

If he had been the goalkeeper for Belgium or England, he would be a star.

But Morocco is not the most followed nation 

, ”confides Christophe Revel, goalkeeper coach of Stade Brestois, who officiated for several months with Morocco, under the Vahid Halilhodzic era.

“ 

Yes, he is one of the best goalkeepers in this competition.

I already knew him, and it's the good side of the World Cup to highlight players who have talent, but who play in less prestigious clubs than others

, "comments Hugo Lloris, goalkeeper of the French team and world champion in 2018.

He arrives in Seville in 2019

Born in Canada in 1991, Yassine Bounou returned to the Cherifian kingdom shortly afterwards.

He will be trained at Wydad Casablanca, which he will leave for Spain.

But at Atlético de Madrid, Thibaut Courtois, then Jan Oblak, blocked his way.

He will never hold.

He then chose the Spanish D2, first at Real Zaragoza then at FC Girona.

Then, he landed in Seville in 2019 as a second goalkeeper.

Good draw, the incumbent is injured, we give him a chance and he takes it.

In 2020, he won the Europa League.

This year, Yassine Bounou won the Zamora Trophy, which rewards the best goalkeeper in Spain, ahead of Madrid's Thibaut Courtois.

An omen?

If the Belgian has already returned home, "Bono" is still enjoying the warmth of his public in Qatar.

If he's not smiling, there's a problem

 "

“ 

I had the chance to see him last year when we played the Champions League with Lille against Sevilla

, remembers Christophe Revel.

He greeted me with a smile.

Besides, if he's not smiling, there's a problem.

If Sevilla is a great team in Spain, not everyone follows the results of the Andalusian club.

We are more focused on Barça, Real or Atlético.

That's a shame.

 »

Because for Christophe Revel: "Bono" is the strong man of the Seville locker room.

“ 

We experts know that he is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.

He is exemplary in his investment in the life of the group.

He is a leader through his exemplarity and his serenity.

He does not need to shout, or climb on a table to be listened to

 , ”assures Christophe Revel.

Morocco, the first African team in the quarter-finals since Ghana in 2010, will face Portugal on Saturday (December 10th) for a place in the semi-finals.

"Bono" will have a new opportunity to showcase his full range of skills, he is so discreet.

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