Chouaib Bellaarouch, an 18-year-old goalkeeper at Stade de Reims, is among the 25 players called up by head coach Jamel Aït Ben Idir for Morocco U23’s two matches against Ethiopia, according to Sport.fr.
Morocco U23 have another gem on their hands. Chouaib Bellaarouch, an 18-year-old goalkeeper at Stade de Reims, has been named by Jamel Aït Ben Idir in a 25-man squad for two meetings with Ethiopia, Sport.fr reported. The call-up rewards a busy summer for the young shot-stopper.
Named best goalkeeper at the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament won by Morocco, Bellaarouch was then signed by Stade de Reims in August from the Mohammed VI Academy.
A summer of silverware
Before joining Reims, Chouaib Bellaarouch had already made his mark on the international stage. According to Sport.fr, he was voted best goalkeeper at the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament Morocco won. He also shone at the U17 World Cup, notably in the round of 16 against the United States.
Stade de Reims signed him in August while he was at the Mohammed VI Academy, where he had been named best goalkeeper at an international U19 tournament in the spring, again according to Sport.fr. Le360 reported his age as 18 when he signed.
At Reims, Bellaarouch wears the number 40 and was initially placed in the Reims Révélations structure, dedicated to young players.
A first with the U23s
This call-up marks another step in the young man’s progress. Jamel Aït Ben Idir has named him among the 25 players for the two clashes with Ethiopia in the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The 2027 edition will be held in Egypt and will serve as a gateway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The schedule is set: the first leg will be played on Thursday 12 November in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, with the return leg scheduled for Tuesday 17 November in Rabat.
The young goalkeeper is the younger brother of Alaa Bellaarouch, also a goalkeeper and a product of the same academy, according to Morocco World News, as reported by Sport.fr.
On to the U23 Africa Cup of Nations
For Morocco U23, these two matches against Ethiopia are a first step towards the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which qualifies teams for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
From the U17 Africa Cup of Nations to the U17 World Cup, and from the Mohammed VI Academy to Stade de Reims, Chouaib Bellaarouch keeps ticking off the milestones. The next one comes in Dire Dawa on 12 November.