Ziad Baha Under Scrutiny: Poor Performance Sparks Outcry After "Portugal Debacle"

The Moroccan U17 national team suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat against Portugal in the second round of the World Cup in Qatar. This result was described as "shocking" given the positive trajectory of Moroccan football in youth categories in recent years.

The defeat ignited widespread anger among fans, who directed their criticism at coach Nabil Baha. They accused him of poor judgment in his selections, particularly his repeated decision to start his son, Ziad Baha, in both matches against Japan and Portugal, despite his perceived mediocre performance.

Statistics reveal a significant difference between Ziad Baha and Nahil El Haddani. In the first match against Japan, which ended in a 2-0 defeat, Ziad Baha played 74 minutes, touching the ball only 17 times. He failed to create any scoring opportunities, won zero out of five aerial duels, and had a poor success rate in ground duels (2 out of 7), concluding the game with a rating of 6.6.

In contrast, Nahil El Haddani entered the match for only the final 16 minutes. During his brief appearance, he successfully completed 100% of his dribbles, touched the ball 8 times, and won both of his duels (2 out of 2), injecting vitality into the attacking line despite the limited playing time.

Against Portugal, Ziad Baha continued his uninspired performance, playing only 45 minutes. He touched the ball 12 times, registered one harmless shot on goal, and won none of his two physical duels.

Upon his introduction, Nahil El Haddani delivered a notable performance in the same 45-minute period. He touched the ball 11 times, unleashed a powerful shot on target, and won half of his aerial duels, demonstrating impressive bravery and tactical discipline.

Nahil El Haddani is considered one of Morocco's most promising rising talents, currently playing for AS Monaco's U19 team. This season, he has scored 8 goals and provided 1 assist in just 10 matches, including appearances in the UEFA Youth League, underscoring his significant technical value.

Observers believe that such talents should be given full opportunities within the national squad, free from any familial or personal considerations.

Fans are demanding accountability following a controversial statement made by coach Nabil Baha after the match. He claimed that "Portugal was not better than Morocco," a comment widely regarded as provocative given the comprehensive six-goal defeat.

Moroccan fans have called for a review of the team's management and for Baha to be held accountable for the result, especially after the repeated "mistake" of starting his son despite his modest performance, which they view as "a form of favoritism" within the national squad.

During the recent U17 Africa Cup of Nations, Nabil Baha had already sparked widespread controversy due to his inappropriate behavior towards Moroccan fans who criticized his son Ziad's performance. He responded to the criticism with gestures deemed provocative and offensive, further escalating tensions between him and the supporters, who expected greater commitment and self-restraint rather than confrontation.