U-17 AFCON: Ziyad Baha under close paternal watch

A calm and composed  Ziyad Baha (15), revealed more than just his precocious talent with the ball after scoring twice and named Man of the Match against South Africa in a 3-1 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON quarter-final clash in Mohammedia.

“I dreamed of this moment long before kick-off. We wanted this semi-final. And now, we’re aiming for the final. The trophy must stay in Morocco.”

Smiling and sincere, the Real Betis player didn’t hide his joy at claiming his first individual award of the tournament. 

“Man of the Match? I’ve wanted that for a long time. What we really want is to become African champions.”

Pressure in the Name of Blood

On the bench, his father Nabil Baha is relentless. And he owns it. 

“I’m tougher on him than the others. He’s not allowed to make mistakes. Because people will always say that if he’s playing, it’s thanks to me.”

The Moroccan coach speaks with honesty and clarity. He knows the kind of suspicion this situation can stir. He counters it with high standards. 

“If he wasn’t good enough, he wouldn’t even be called up. But every time he plays, he scores. He has statistics that I’ll reveal one day. They’re brutal numbers.”

Born in 2009, Ziyad Baha joined youth national teams at the age of 11, consistently playing in higher age categories. 

“He’s always played above his age group. He’s a player who needs support but also pushing. He has personality. He knows he’s good, but he also knows there’s a lot of work ahead.”

A Promise to Nurture

In the calm of the dressing room, the father-son bond takes over again. 

“Sometimes I bring him to my room to talk, to get his head straight. I may be harder on him than the fans. But that’s what’s needed.”

And while the road is still long, the Moroccan coach has no doubt about his son’s potential. 

“He’ll have a great career—if he stays humble, if he works harder than everyone else, and if he keeps going down this path.”