\n
\nRIYADH: Much will rest on the broad shoulders of Yassine Bounou when Morocco kick off their sixth World Cup appearance with a clash against Croatia at Qatar 2022 on Nov. 23.<\/p>\n
\nThe unassuming, hardworking goalkeeper, now one of Europe\u2019s top shot stoppers, will be one of the African nation\u2019s most trusted players in Doha.<\/p>\n
\nBut his career with the Atlas Lions almost never happened.<\/p>\n
\nBounou, or Bono as he is nicknamed, was eligible to play for Canada, his country of birth, but decided in 2011 to play for Morocco at the request of coach Rachid Taoussi.<\/p>\n
\nHaving represented the under-20s at the 2012 Olympics in London, he made the senior squad in 2013 and has been there ever since. Yet it took a while to establish himself as a regular No. 1, both at international and club level.<\/p>\n
\nFollowing the Olympics, Bounou left Wydad Casablanca for Spain and Atletico Madrid\u2019s reserves.<\/p>\n
\nHis rise to the top would not be an easy one, and he reportedly faced some difficulties in adapting to the lifestyle and mentality in Spain and had to double his efforts to get along with his teammates and settle in a new culture.<\/p>\n
\nStanding in his way and first-team opportunities at Atletico Madrid was one Thibaut Courtois, but the young Moroccan persevered and thanks to a series of loan and permanent moves, would eventually make his mark in Spanish football.<\/p>\n
\nAfter a loan spell at Zaragoza, he left Atletico for Catalan club Girona, where he played 83 La Liga matches between 2016 and 2019.<\/p>\n
\nHe was part of Morocco\u2019s squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia though he once again had to be content with watching from the bench.<\/p>\n
\nA year later, however, at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, he shone by keeping two clean sheets in the group stages as Herve Renard\u2019s team reached the round of 16, where they lost to Benin on penalties.<\/p>\n
\nThen Sevilla came knocking and Bounou\u2019s career would take a major leap. First on a season\u2019s loan and then, from the summer of 2020, as a permanent signing, he excelled at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.<\/p>\n
\nBono, thanks to some heroics in goal, helped Sevilla win the Europa League for a record-extending sixth time in 2020, which prompted the club to renew his contract until 2025.<\/p>\n
\nLast year, Bounou kept 32 clean sheets in 59 matches, outperforming every goalkeeper in Europe, surpassing even his old rival Courtois, who would go on to win the Champions League with Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
\nBut it would be Bounou who claimed the (late Espanyol glovesman Ricardo) Zamora Award for La Liga\u2019s best goalkeeper at the end of the 2021-22 season. The Moroccan was the first Arab and only the second African to win it.<\/p>\n
\nNo doubt Bounou\u2019s time in Europe has refined his talent.<\/p>\n
\nMorocco coach Walid Regragui will likely call on Bounou, Al-Wehda\u2019s Munir Mohamedi El-Kajoui, and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti of Wydad for the World Cup, but it is expected that Bounou will be first choice.<\/p>\n
\nEl-Kajoui was the first choice \u2019keeper in Russia four years ago, before losing his place to Bounou in 2019. This season, he has been in exceptional form for Al-Wehda in the Saudi Pro League and can be assured of being backup. This will leave Anas Zniti of Raja challenging Tagnaouti for the third spot.<\/p>\n
\nSince making his debut for Morocco against Burkina Faso in 2013, Bounou has steadily evolved to become one of the most prominent goalkeepers in Africa, and then the world.<\/p>\n
\nHe has participated in the three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations since 2017 and experienced the World Cup in Russia.<\/p>\n
\nQatar 2022, however, should see him at his peak.<\/p>\n
\nDespite being in a tough group that also includes Belgium and Canada, Morocco will have serious ambitions of reaching the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.<\/p>\n
\nThis should not be an unachievable dream for a golden generation of players such as Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, and Sofiane Boufal. And, as one of the world\u2019s best goalkeepers, Yassine Bounou.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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