Azzedine Ounahi (, ; born 19 April 2000) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League Greece club Panathinaikos and the Morocco national team.
Ounahi made his international debut in 2022, after previously being capped by the nation's youth teams at under-20 level. He was chosen in Morocco's squad for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and 2026. He was also picked for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
Club career
Early career A former player of Raja CA and Mohammed VI Academy, Ounahi joined RC Strasbourg in 2018. In August 2020, he moved to Championnat National club Avranches.
Angers On 14 July 2021, Ligue 1 club Angers announced the signing of Ounahi on a four-year deal. He made his professional debut on 15 August 2021 by scoring a goal in club's 3–0 league win against Lyon.
Marseille After attracting the interest of several top-tier clubs across Europe, thanks to his breakthrough performances for Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, on 29 January 2023 Ounahi officially joined fellow Ligue 1 side Marseille for an estimated fee of 8 million euros plus add-ons, signing a contract until June 2027. On 1 February 2023, he scored his first goal for Marseille on his debut against Nantes. On 1 November 2023, Ounahi was nominated for the 2023 African Footballer of the Year by CAF.
Loan to Panathinaikos On 4 September 2024, Ounahi joined Greek club Panathinaikos on an initial season-long loan with an option to buy.
Girona On 30 August 2025, Ounahi signed with Girona on a contract lasting until 2030. He scored his first La Liga goal in a 1–1 away draw with Athletic Bilbao.
Return to Panathinaikos On 2 September 2026, Ounahi rejoined Greek side Panathinaikos, signing a four-year contract.
International career Youth Ounahi was called up for Morocco U20 to participate in the 2018 Mediterranean Games. On 22 June 2018, he scored a goal at the 68th minute in a tie against Italy. He later went on to win the bronze medal with the team after a victory in the penalty shoot-out against Greece.
Senior On 23 December 2021, Vahid Halilhodžić gave Ounahi his first call-up to the Moroccan senior national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Ounahi made his professional debut for Morocco in the 2021 African Cup of Nations in a 1–0 victory against Ghana on 10 January 2022. In his fourth match with Morocco, he managed to score a double in a 4–1 victory against DR Congo in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round, which marked his first goal with the national team.
On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. After an impressive performance in the round of 16 game against Spain, which Morocco won on penalties, Spanish manager Luis Enrique commented on Ounahi's performance: "My God, where does this guy come from? I was pleasantly surprised by their number eight. I don't remember his name, I'm sorry…". In the quarter-final match against Portugal, which Morocco won 1–0, no Moroccan player had more dribbles (three) or won more duels (seven) than Ounahi. Morocco went on to finish fourth in the tournament. During a friendly match against Brazil, which resulted in a 2–1 victory, Ounahi picked up an injury after suffering a fracture in his right toe, that required him to undergo surgery, which resulted in an end of his football season.
On 17 January 2024, Ounahi scored a goal in a 3–0 victory against Tanzania, marking his first ever goal in the Africa Cup of Nations. On 11 December 2025, Ounahi was called up to the Morocco squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
On 26 May 2026, Ounahi was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the round of 16 game against Canada, he scored the first two goals in a 3–0 victory as his team progressed to the quarterfinals.
Personal life Ounahi considers Andrés Iniesta his footballing role model. Ounahi is the cousin of footballer Reda Mhannaoui.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStrasbourg B2018–19Championnat National 3200——2002019–20Championnat National 3151——151Total351——351Avranches B2020–21Championnat National 321——21Avranches2020–21Championnat National27510—285Angers2021–22Ligue 132210—3322022–23Ligue 115000—150Total47210—482Marseille2022–23Ligue 17120—912023–24Ligue 121200140352Total28320140443Panathinaikos (loan)2024–25Super League Greece2553190376Girona2025–26La Liga24500—245Panathinaikos 2026–27Super League Greece41120053Career total192238323022326
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsMorocco2022172202341202415420251022026123Total5812
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ounahi goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Azzedine OunahiNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 29 March 2022 Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco 1–0 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification2 3–03 12 September 2023 Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France 1–0 1–0 Friendly4 17 January 2024 Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro, Ivory Coast 2–0 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations5 11 June 2024 Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco 1–0 6–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification6 12 October 2024 Honor Stadium, Oujda, Morocco 2–0 5–0 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification7 4–08 5 September 2025 Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco 5–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification9 14 November 2025 Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier, Morocco 1–0 1–0 Friendly10 4 July 2026 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States 1–0 3–0 2026 FIFA World Cup11 2–012 29 September 2026 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa 2–0 2–0 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Honours Morocco U20 Mediterranean Games third place: 2018
Morocco Africa Cup of Nations: 2025
Individual IFFHS Africa Team of The Year: 2022 Panathinaikos Player of the Season: 2024–25 Super League Greece Team of the Season: 2024–25
Orders Order of the Throne: 2022
References
External links
Profile at the Olympique de Marseille website