Taha Benrhozil
Moroccan footballer (born 2006)
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Taha Benrhozil (Arabic: طه بنغوزيل; born 18 June 2006) is a Moroccan footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for the Mohammed VI Football Academy.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Taha Benrhozil[1] | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 18 June 2006 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Mohammedia, Morocco | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | |||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Mohammed VI Football Academy | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | La Lauria | |||||||||||||
| 2015– | Mohammed VI Football Academy | |||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2022– | Morocco U17 | 17 | (0) | |||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||
| ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22 November 2023 | ||||||||||||||
Early life
Benrhozil was born in Mohammedia to a father who also played as a goalkeeper, and is the grandson of Abdelsalam Benrhozil, who played for Union de Mohammédia.[2]
International career
Called up to the Morocco under-17 side for the 2022 Arab Cup U-17, Benrhozil started in every game as Morocco reached the final. For his performances in the tournament, Benrhozil was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.[3]
In the final, after Morocco lost 4–2 on penalties to Algeria following a 1–1 draw in normal time, Benrhozil was involved in a collision with an Algerian player as he went to leave his penalty area, with the Algerian team choosing to celebrate in the Moroccan end of the pitch. This altercation sparked a brawl, with Algerian players attacking Benrhozil and his teammates with kicks and punches.[4] For their role in the incident, Algeria were subject to punishment from the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA), who ordered them to pay a fine of US$120,000 for fans entering the field, while both sides were fined US$25,000 for failing to control players.[5] Algerian player Abdelhak Benidir, who initially attacked Behrhozil, was given a six-month suspension by the UAFA.[6]
He was called up to the squad again in April for the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, and he drew praise for his performance in Morocco's 3–0 quarter-final win against Algeria, keeping prolific Algerian forward Moslem Anatouf quiet during the game.[7] Following Morocco's 6–5 penalty shoot-out win against Mali, he earned comparisons to Morocco national team goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, for their shared ability to save penalty kicks.[8]
His performances continued to impress for Morocco's under-17 side, and at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he was named Man of the Match in Morocco's 4–1 penalty shoot-out win against Iran, following a 1–1 draw in normal time - saving from Iranian Kasra Taheri twice in the penalty shoot-out, after the initial penalty was retaken due to encroachment from Benrhozil.[9]
Personal life
Benrhozil supports Moroccan Botola side Wydad Casablanca.[10]
Honours
Morocco U17
- U-17 Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2023