Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made his 100th appearance for Morocco against Niger in Casablanca. He becomes the third most-capped Lion in history and saved a penalty while his side led 2-1.
One hundred caps and a penalty saved. Yassine Bounou made his 100th appearance in the Morocco shirt against Niger at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, reports Le360 Sport. The Al-Hilal goalkeeper thus becomes the third most-capped Atlas Lion in history, behind Achraf Hakimi (104 caps) and Noureddine Naybet (115).
According to beIN Sports, the Morocco international saved a penalty from Youssouf Oumarou and then the follow-up shot, while Morocco led 2-1. The match counts towards 2027 AFCON qualifying.
A double save from the spot
The penalty drama put the goalkeeper at the heart of the match. According to beIN Sports, Bounou stopped Youssouf Oumarou’s attempt, before also keeping out the follow-up shot, at a moment when Morocco held only a one-goal lead (2-1).
The double save came in a 2027 AFCON qualifier in which the goalkeeper won his 100th cap.
From 2012 to today, the same stadium
The venue for this century has a link to his beginnings. According to Le360 Sport, Yassine Bounou received his first call-up in 2012 for a match against Togo, also played at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. More than thirteen years later, it was in the same ground that he reached the 100-cap mark.
Before kick-off, the goalkeeper posed with a shirt bearing the number 100 alongside Achraf Hakimi and his son, reports Le360 Sport. He now takes his place on the podium of Morocco’s most-capped players.
A historic podium within glove’s reach
With 100 caps, Bounou now stands ahead of every Atlas Lion except two: Noureddine Naybet (115) and Achraf Hakimi (104), according to Le360 Sport’s count. The Al-Hilal goalkeeper thus places himself behind those two players.
With 104 caps, Hakimi is the second most-capped player in Morocco’s history. He appeared in the pre-match photo alongside the goalkeeper.
Morocco continue their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.