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Barcelona monitors Ezzalzouli as Amrabat faces uncertain future at Real Betis
via Le Matin2 min read
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, following an exceptional season with Real Betis, has become a highly sought-after player in La Liga. With 11 goals and 10 assists in 34 matches, the African champion's consistent progression, speed, and dribbling skills have attracted the attention of several top European clubs. FC Barcelona is reportedly closely monitoring its former player as a credible alternative if a deal for Marcus Rashford does not materialize, according to the Spanish newspaper "AS." The uncertainties surrounding Rashford's cost and recent performances have led Barcelona to explore other options, with Ezzalzouli seen as a strategic choice to bring speed and impact on the left flank. Barcelona also retains a percentage on any future resale, which could facilitate the acquisition, while Betis has set an asking price of approximately 30 million euros. Ezzalzouli is also linked with clubs in the Premier League, Serie A, and Bundesliga. In contrast, Sofyan Amrabat's situation at Betis is more precarious. Despite arriving with high expectations, the Moroccan midfielder has not consistently performed well enough to fully convince Betis management. His inconsistent displays have led the club to reconsider activating his purchase option, estimated at around 10 million euros. His high salary is also a factor given the club's budget constraints, which are dependent on sporting results. The final decision on Amrabat largely depends on Betis's qualification for a European competition next se
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Olympic Club de Safi's inaugural CAF Confederation Cup campaign, though historic for the club, concluded in the semi-finals, marked by a struggle to convert dominance into goals. The Moroccan team, dubbed the "Safi Sharks," started strong with a 5-0 victory against ASN Nigelec in the qualification phase and progressed through the first round. However, the knockout stages presented challenges, as the team often failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities. The Confederation of African Football CAF highlighted OC Safi's limited effectiveness, noting a "frustrating" pattern of domination and significant chances that ultimately cost them a place in the final. A striking statistic from CAF revealed that OC Safi recorded five consecutive draws, a first in the competition's history. This streak began on February 14, 2026, against USMA in the group stage, followed by two draws against Wydad and Union Sportive d'Alger in the semi-finals. Against the Algerian opponents, OC Safi failed to secure a win in four encounters three draws, one loss, scoring only one goal despite 41 shots and an "expected goals" total of 3.4. The club won four of its first five matches in the 2025-2026 edition before the five consecutive draws. Moussa Koné emerged as the top scorer from the bench in this edition, netting three goals from three shots on target. Despite falling short of the final, OC Safi gained valuable experience from their historic first participation.
The Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, is presenting the government's performance review to the House of Representatives. This event is taking place on April 21, 2026.
Soufiane El Bakkali is set to make his return to competition at the Mohammed VI Meeting in Rabat on May 31, more than a year after losing his world title to New Zealander Geordie Beamish at the Tokyo World Championships. El Bakkali's last major outing was on September 15, 2025, in Tokyo, where he finished second, just seven hundredths of a second behind Beamish, ending his long dominance in the event. This defeat highlighted a vulnerability, particularly in fast, atypical finishes. This season presents significant challenges for El Bakkali, who aims to regain his mental edge in a more competitive and unpredictable discipline. His rivals include Geordie Beamish, who proved he could beat El Bakkali. Kenyan athletes Abraham Kibiwot and Amos Serem are also strong contenders, planning to set a high pace to challenge El Bakkali. Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, the world record holder and a long-standing rival, will also be looking to make a breakthrough this season. Additionally, emerging talents like American Kenneth Rooks, known for his technical progression over barriers, will be competing. The 2026 Diamond League is expected to be highly contested. For El Bakkali, the goal is to balance performance with strategic management to accumulate points without compromising his main objectives. The Rabat meeting will be a crucial first test, with a convincing victory potentially dispelling doubts and reasserting his leadership before the major summer events.
The Atlas Lionesses have advanced four places in the latest FIFA women's rankings, now holding the 4th position in Africa with 1402.88 points. This improvement follows three friendly match victories. Nigeria leads the African rankings at 36th globally, followed by South Africa 58th and Ghana 59th. Zambia remains at 64th worldwide, completing the continental top five. Globally, 276 qualifying matches for the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027 have been played across all confederations except CAF since the last ranking in December 2025. Spain maintains its lead since August 2025, despite a loss to England, which moved up to 3rd place, pushing Germany to 4th. The United States remains 2nd after two friendly wins and one loss to Japan. Japan made the biggest leap in the top 10, rising three places to 5th, thanks to six qualifying victories and a friendly win against the United States. Sweden dropped three places to 8th due to poor results. North Korea exited the top 10, replaced by the Netherlands, which re-entered at 10th. Several countries achieved their highest-ever rankings, including Turkey 51st, El Salvador 78th, Kosovo 81st, Nepal 87th, and Saudi Arabia 160th. American Samoa also made a significant jump, climbing 17 spots to 120th. The British Virgin Islands have been removed from the rankings, reducing the total number of ranked teams from 198 to 197, as they have not fielded a women's team for four years. The next FIFA women's world ranking will be published on June 16,