From the glitter of a World Cup semi-final in the desert to the pangs of the depths of the Ligue 1 classification in the heart of winter, the clash may seem too harsh for the two players who are among the best dribblers in the league. planet.

Plunged into the doldrums between successive defeats, suspended finances and a trial for sexual assault against President Saïd Chabane announced for June, Angers would really need to see its champions return.

"The two globalists will be there on December 31," said interim coach Abdel Bouhazama on Tuesday at a pre-match press conference, while Boufal has already deleted any mention of Angers on his social networks and Chabane seems mostly busy raising the stakes for Ounahi.

"We have offers", he assured ten days ago on RTL.

"It comes from everywhere. Italy, Spain, England, France... Our wish is to find a deal in January, but to stay until the end of the season."

On the SCO website, the interested party split a simple declaration of recognition: “It was Angers that offered me the opportunity to compete in the World Cup and to be able to expose and show my qualities to the world. "

Ounahi, the revelation

For the future, he said, "I am in contact every day with the president (Chabane). We are going to make the right choice for my career and for the club".

According to several media, the amount of the transfer of the player under contract until 2026 could exceed 30 million euros.

Naples, Leicester, Seville or even Marseille would be interested.

A great potential shift for the club and an exceptional rise for the 22-year-old midfielder with a twig physique (1.82 m for 62 kg).

Azzedine Ounahi (right) in the jersey of SCO Angers in the fight with the Monegasque Youssouf Fofana on October 30, 2022 at the Louis-II stadium in Monaco in L1 © Valery HACHE / AFP/Archives

Born in Casablanca and trained at the Mohammed VI Football Academy near Rabat, he played two years with the Strasbourg reserve (2018-2020) then a season at Avranches (National), before his technical qualities and volume of game did not catch the eye of Angers recruiters.

Arrived in the summer of 2021, he quickly established himself as a starter, also winning a first ticket for the Moroccan team during the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in January.

Discreet at the CAN, he entered the hearts of Moroccans with a double in the play-off for the World Cup against Congo in March before bursting the screen in December in Qatar.

Boufal, the child of the country

“My God, where does this boy come from!” exclaimed Spanish coach Luis Enrique, impressed, after the elimination of La Roja in the round of 16.

In Angers, the supporters followed his exploits with a pride tinged with bitterness: Ounahi had not particularly shone at the start of the season with the SCO and his involvement seemed to decrease as the World Cup approached.

The disenchantment is even more marked with Boufal, the local child who moved the world by dancing with his mother Zoubida on the pitch after qualifying for the semi-finals.

Sofiane Boufal dances with her mother after Morocco qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup on December 10, 2022 on the lawn of the Al-Thumama stadium in Doha © JUAN MABROMATA / AFP/Archives

Joined the club at the age of ten, he made his professional debut nine years later.

He then shone in Lille (2015-2016) before missing his adventure in England (Southampton) and returning to revive in Angers in 2020.

If the physical has often struggled to follow, he showed that he had lost none of his technical qualities.

This was enough to remind him of the good memories of the Moroccan selection where, thanks to a refined game and greater tactical discipline, he finally earned his stripes as a holder of the CAN.

At 29, he is under contract until 2024 but according to several media, he has received offers from Gulf countries.

© 2022 AFP