Taha Benrhozil

Taha Benrhozil

Personal information
Full name	Taha Benrhozil[1]
Date of birth	(2006-06-18) 18 June 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	Mohammedia, Morocco
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	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 Representing  Morocco U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Runner-up 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 November 2023

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.

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

References

1. "FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™" (PDF). fdp.fifa.org. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
2. "جريدة أنفابريس في بيت عائلة حارس المنتخب المغربي لاقل من 17 سنة طه بنغوزيل" [Anfapress newspaper in the family home of the Moroccan under-17 national team goalkeeper, Taha Benrhozil]. anfapress.ma (in Arabic). 13 September 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
3. "حارس المنتخب المغربي "طه بنغزيل" يحصد ثمار تألقه في كأس العرب" [Moroccan national team goalkeeper Taha Bengzel reaps the fruits of his brilliance in the Arab Cup]. akhbarona.com (in Arabic). 9 September 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
4. "لكمات ورفس بالأرجل.. لاعبو المنتخب المغربي للناشئين يتعرضون لاعتداء "شنيع" من طرف عناصر المنتخب الجزائري وسط غياب تام لرجال الأمن" [Punches and kicks in the legs.. Moroccan junior national team players are subjected to a “heinous” assault by members of the Algerian national team amid the complete absence of security personnel]. m.elbotola.com (in Arabic). 8 September 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
5. "الاتحاد العربي يصدر قرارات تأديبية بحق الجزائر بعد الاعتداء على المنتخب المغربي للناشئين إقرأ المزيد" [The Arab Union issues disciplinary decisions against Algeria after the attack on the Moroccan junior national team]. al3omk.com (in Arabic). 10 September 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
6. "Coupe Arabe U17 : Benidir suspendu 6 mois !" [U17 Arab Cup: Benidir suspended for 6 months!]. dzfoot.com (in Arabic). 11 September 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
7. "طه بنغوزيل.. الحارس الأمين على مرمى الأشبال" [Taha Benguzel.. the trustworthy goalkeeper for the Cubs]. almountakhab.com (in Arabic). 10 May 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
8. "ميلاد ياسين بونو جديد….طه بنغزيل يتألق بكأس أمم أفريقيا لأقل من 17 عاماً بالجزائر" [A new birth to Yassine Bounou...Taha Bengzel shines in the Under-17 African Cup of Nations in Algeria]. albadilassiassi.com (in Arabic). 15 May 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
9. "الفيفا تختار حارس المنتخب الوطني طه بنغزيل أحسن لاعب في مباراة المغرب إيران" [FIFA Chooses National Team Goalkeeper Taha Bengzel As The Best Player In The Morocco-Iran Match]. rue20.com (in Arabic). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
10. "والد طه بنغزيل حارس المنتخب الوطني: ولدي طه كيموت على الوداد" [The father of Taha Bengzel, the national team goalkeeper: My son Taha will die for Wydad]. mobile.chouftv.ma (in Arabic). 11 May 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.

External links

• Taha Benrhozil at Soccerway
• Taha Benrhozil at WorldFootball.net