Abdelilah Hafidi
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 December 2021 (UTC)
Abdelilah Hafidi (born 30 January 1992) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Al-Hazem and the Morocco national team. He started his professional career playing for Raja CA.
Contents
- 1 Career
- 1.1 Club
- 2 International
- 3 Career statistics
- 4 Honours
- 4.1 Club
- 4.2 Personal honours
- 5 References
Career
Club
During the 2011–12 Botola season, Hafidi was one of a few Raja Casablanca B players who were called up to the first team as part of the team's board members plan, which sought to solve the team's financial difficulties by giving the chance to its young players to integrate into the first team. Hafidi made 11 appearances during 2011–12 Botola. However, he did not play for most of the season, but still managed to score 3 goals in the Botola; 2 goals against Chabab M*ira (4–1) and 1 goal against KAC Kenitra (5–2). Raja Casablanca ended the 2011–12 Botola season as fourth in the ranking of the Botola, which secured them a place in the Arab Champions League.
During the 2012–13 pre-season transfer window, Raja Casablanca's new president, Mohamed Boudrika, signed the Moroccan coach, Mohamed Fakhir. The latter made some meaningful changes to the team's squad. However, Hafidi was not released as Fakher was convinced that the young player has a substantial individual talent. As a result, Hafidi imposed himself as an indispensable player in the team, despite his young age. Furthermore, he played an important role in the front line of the team, during all 5 matches of the Moroccan Cup Coupe du Trône, by scoring 3 goals in 3 consecutive matches, against H*ania Agadir (2–1), KACM (0–1) and Wydad Casablanca (1–3). Consequently, Raja Casablanca won the Moroccan Cup for the seventh time in its history, after beating FAR Rabat, in the finals, by penalty shoot-outs (4–5), following a score of (0–0) in the match.
Hafidi's performances drew more attention during the 2012–13 season. He scored 6 goals in the Moroccan league 2012–13 Botola, 2 goals in the Arab Champions League and 3 goals in the Moroccan Cup Coupe du Trône. Hafidi ended the season with 2 trophies, The Moroccan Cup Coupe du Trône and the Moroccan league 2012–13 Botola. The latter qualified Raja Casablanca directly to the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, as Morocco was the host country of that year's tournament.
He had a huge success with the team winning over 8 *les. He won his first *le with Raja after finishing 1st place in the 2012–13 Botola, he won his second *le with the team after a draw with Libyan football team Al-Hilal SC (Benghazi) to win the 2015 UNAF Club Cup. on 2017 he won another *le after defeating Difaâ H*ani El Jadidi to achieve the 2017 Moroccan Throne Cup. In 2018 starts Raja glory in Africa. He won the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup with the team after defeating AS Vita Club in the finals. which guaranteed them a spot in the 2019 CAF Super Cup, eventually Him and his team won the *le after a 2–1 victory over Espérance Sportive de Tunis take took place in Thani bin J*im Stadium in Qatar. In 2020, He won the league for the first time. and won the 2020 Arab Champions League after defeating Al-Ittihad 4–3 in penalties. In 2021, he achieved the 2021 CAF Confederation Cup after defeating JS Kabylie 2–1 in the final. Raja lost the 2021 CAF Super Cup against Al Ahly SC in penalties.
International
He made his debut for Morocco in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group stage game against South Africa, scored one in an eventual 2–2 draw that saw Morocco eliminated after three draws.
Hafidi represented Morocco in the 2018 African Nations Championship, helping his country to achieve the first chan *le for Morocco after defeating Nigeria 4–0 in the final.He also took part in the 2020 African Nations Championship, helping his country to achieve the *le and becoming the first and only country to win the Championship back to back after defeating Mali 2–0 in the final.
Career statistics
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first.Honours
Club
Raja Casablanca
- FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2013
- Botola: 2013, 2020
- Coupe du Trône: 2012, 2017 runner-up: 2013
- North African Cup of Champions: 2015
- Arab Champions League: 2020
- CAF Confederation Cup: 2018, 2021
- CAF Super Cup: 2019
Morocco
- African Nations Championship: 2018, 2020
Personal honours
- Best youngplayer of Botola: 2012
- Best Player of Botola: 2019
- Botola Top *ist: 2017
- Raja CA Player of the Month: October 2020