Neil El Aynaoui is in great shape and this is excellent news for the Morocco team a few weeks before the 2026 World Cup, with a shock entry on the program against Brazil on June 16, before matches against Scotland and Haiti. The defensive midfielder revealed at RC Lens (2023-2025) remains on two goals scored with the Atlas Lions during the last international window, against Ecuador (1-1) then Paraguay (2-1 victory). Enough to confirm his takeover dating from the 2025 African Cup of Nations in the country.
The 24-year-old also opened his goal counter in Serie A last Saturday against Bologna. The native of Nancy (and trained at ASNL) was first a decisive passer for Donyell Malen at the start of the match (7th) before making the break on a serve from the same Dutch attacker before half-time (45th+1).
A Morocco-Senegal that leaves its mark
Starting a second match in a row with the Giallorossi (Manu Koné being unavailable), El Aynaoui is perhaps off to an excellent end to the season. His first year in Italy, under the orders of Gian Piero Gasperini, was however mixed at the moment. The midfielder was not an indisputable starter in Serie A during the first part of the season, content to start in the Europa League. But on his return from the CAN, he then made a series of appearances, without relief, before being relegated to the bench during the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League against Bologna (3-4 defeat and elimination).
Gasperini justified the little playing time of his Franco-Moroccan: “El Aynaoui paid the price for all the incidents with Morocco during the African Cup and these effects are still there. But he’s in good shape, he’s a positive player, maybe we needed a little time for him to regain the energy he lost at this tournament. »
It is true, Walid Regragui’s players experienced terrible disillusionment during the final on January 18 in Rabat, losing to Senegal (0-1, ap). The dismissal of the Lions of Teranga and the official coronation of Morocco only took place two months later.
