Ilias Akhomach in the top 3 of the best Arab dribblers in Europe

With 39 successful dribbles, Ilias Akhomach is part of the top 3 of the most titled Arab dribblers in the 5 best European leagues this season, according to the Sofascore website. He is ahead of Algerian Rayan Ait-Nouri (45 successful dribbles) and Jordanian Mousa Al-Taamari (40 dribbles). A huge honor for the Hispano-Moroccan midfielder of Villarreal who is participating in his first season with the Spanish club. His coach Marcelino Garcia Toral has confidence in him due to his rapid rise to the starting position, we learn.

Summoned by Walid Regragui, the 19-year-old player participated in the training camp of the Atlas Lions in March. The coach of the Moroccan national team lined him up for the friendly match against Angola, which ended in a victory for the Atlas Lions (1-0).

After defending the Roja jersey in the youth teams from U16 to U21 of which he was captain (33 caps in total in 4 categories: U-16, U-18, U-19 and U-21), Ilias definitively turned his back on Spain to join the den of the Lion Cubs of the Atlas (U-23) in November 2023. A choice he is proud of and fully assumes. "In the end, I remain Moroccan, my culture and my origins come from Morocco. It was not a difficult decision to make this choice, I have always known it clearly and my entourage as well," he said in an interview with the Spanish media El Relevo.