Zakaria Aboukhlal

Articles

• Moroccan Football Federation Sues Website Over Salafism Allegations Against Player
  25 December 2022, by Said

  The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) wants to protect its players. Following an article accusing the player Zakaria Aboukhlal of Salafism, published by a Moroccan website, the Moroccan federation has decided to take legal action.
  The site achkayne accused the Moroccan player of promoting the Salafist rite in general and in particular among the players of the national team.
  In a statement, the FRMF categorically denies the accusations made by the Arabic-language site against (…)

• FIFA Credits Morocco’s Opening Goal Against Belgium to Romain Saiss
  29 November 2022, by Armel

  The goal that allowed the Atlas Lions to open the scoring against the Belgian Red Devils was not awarded to Abdelhamid Sabiri, but to his teammate Romain Saiss.
  FIFA has reversed its decision regarding the first goal, which allowed Walid Regragui’s protégés to gain confidence against Belgium. In the 73rd minute, with the counter stuck at 0-0, Abdelhamid Sabiri magnificently shot a free kick into the top corner.
  The goal was first awarded to him. After verification and several (…)

• Morocco’s Aboukhlal Gains 150,000 Instagram Followers After World Cup Goal Against Belgium
  1 December 2022, by Prince

  Zakaria Aboukhlal is the author of the second goal that gave Morocco the victory against Belgium in the World Cup. Since this victory, the 22-year-old player, born in the Netherlands, has over 150,000 new subscribers on his social networks.
  "It’s a dream come true. I can’t believe it," Aboukhlal said after his goal. "We prefer to wait until Thursday after the match against Canada. We hope that Morocco will be among the 16 best teams in the world," his father and brother, who are in Qatar (…)

• German TV Host Sparks Controversy with Comparison of Moroccan Soccer Celebrations to ISIS Gestures
  14 December 2022, by Sylvanus

  The celebrations by the Atlas Lions for their successes at the 2022 Qatar World Cup are not to the liking of the German media. They compare them to members of the Islamic State.
  In a report, a television presenter from the popular German channel Welt reproaches Moroccan players Zakaria Abouklal, Abdelhamid Sabiri and Ilias Chair for celebrating their victory over Portugal (1-0) by posing with a Moroccan flag and raising their index finger, a "salute" similar to that used by members of the (…)

• German News Channel Apologizes for Falsely Linking Moroccan Soccer Players to ISIS
  15 December 2022, by Armel

  Following its defamatory report on Moroccan players, the private German news channel Welt has finally apologized.
  The media accused Moroccan players Ilias Chair, Zakaria Aboukhlal and Abdelhamid Sabiri of being linked to the terrorist group Islamic State. On an image that went viral on social media, we see the three Moroccan players, each with a finger raised, celebrating Morocco’s victory.
  This gesture was interpreted by the television as a trademark of Daesh, noting that it is carried (…)

• Moroccan Justice Minister Dismisses Aboukhlal Controversy as ’Nonsense’
  27 December 2022, by Ginette

  The Minister of Justice is following in the footsteps of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and reacting to the controversy surrounding the player Zakaria Aboukhlal. Abdellatif Ouahbi denounced online harassment, insulting or mocking remarks on the internet and threatens to severely punish the perpetrators.
  During the weekly oral question session at the House of Representatives, the Minister of Justice, Abdelatif Ouahbi, expressed his displeasure following the Zakaria Aboukhlal (…)

• Moroccan Star Aboukhlal Named to Ligue 1 Team of the Week After Stellar Performance
  14 February 2023, by Ginette

  At the end of the 23rd matchday of Ligue 1, Zakaria Aboukhlal was chosen in the team of the week of the French championship. The Moroccan international stood out in the match between Toulouse and Rennes.
  Scorer and assist provider against Rennes, Zakaria Aboukhlal was chosen by the French newspaper L’Équipe to be included in the team of the week for the 23rd matchday of Ligue 1. On Sunday against Rennes, the Atlas Lion contributed to Toulouse’s victory (3-1), by scoring the 2nd goal in (…)

• Toulouse FC Player Suspended After Sexist Remark to City Official
  15 May 2023, by Said

  Zakaria Aboukhlal finds himself at the center of controversy once again. After refusing to wear a jersey in rainbow colors during a Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) initiative against homophobia, the Moroccan player is now at the center of an altercation with Laurence Arribagé, deputy mayor of Toulouse in charge of sports.
  The incident occurred during the speech of Téfécé coach Philippe Montanier at the Capitole. While Laurence Arribagé, the city’s sports official, was asking the (…)

• Moroccan-Dutch Forward Zakaria Aboukhlal Chooses Morocco for International Career
  9 November 2020, by Bladi.net

  Announced on the list of Moroccan coach Vahid Halilhodzic, the Moroccan-Dutch player felt he had made the "best choice" for his career.
  At 20 years old, Zakaria Aboukhlal was torn between several nationalities. While he had the choice between Libya, his father’s country of origin, the Netherlands, his adopted country, the young player finally opted for Morocco, his mother’s country of origin.
  On his Instagram account, he admitted to having been approached by the two countries. "Libya (…)

• FIFA Approves Zakaria Aboukhlal’s Switch to Morocco National Team
  12 November 2020, by Ginette

  Unlike Munir El Haddadi who is still wondering about the outcome of his change of sporting nationality, Zakaria Aboukhlal is already certain about his fate. FIFA has just granted him the possibility of playing with the Moroccan national team.
  The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced the good news. It states that it has received "correspondence from FIFA including the acceptance of its request regarding the participation of the player Zakaria Aboukhlal in the Moroccan national (…)