Moroccan striker Walid Cheddira impressed with a brace last weekend against Napoli (2-2), the club that loaned him to Frosinone. An international since 2022, the player will be one of the key assets for his side, who are fighting for Serie A survival in 18th place (28 points).
It was written.Walid Cheddira (26) could not fail to score against Napoli, the club that paid 7.5 million euros last August to bring him over from Bari and where he is under contract until June 30, 2026. The Moroccan international (6 caps) scored both his team's goals (2-2), jeopardizing the defending champions' chances of securing one of Italy's five Champions League berths for next season. At the Stadio San-Paolo, Cheddira scored his fifth and sixth goals in Serie A, and his seventh of the season, having already put Napoli ahead in December, when Frosinone won the Italian Cup 4-0 at the same venue.
The Canarini, who are in the race to stay in Serie A, are banking heavily on their striker, whose effectiveness has been undiminished since the 3-2 win over Juventus on February 25, after he had remained silent in the league since August 17 against Sassuolo (4-2)." He's in good form, as he's proved over the last two months ," comments Khalid Fouhami, former Atlas Lions goalkeeper and now coach of CS Kénifra (Botola 2). Prior to his brace on Neapolitan soil, Cheddiura had also scored against Lecce (1-1, March 3) and Lazio Rome, where he was unable to prevent the Lazio team losing (2-3, March 16).
In Morocco, his home country, the striker's performances are followed with real interest. Moroccans really got to know Walid Cheddira in September 2022, when Walid Regragui, coach of the Atlas Lions, called him up for a training camp and a series of friendly matches. The native of Loretto, in the province of Ancona (central Italy), even scored the only goal in a match against Madagascar (1-0) in Rabat.But the confrontation between the North Africans and the islanders was not a FIFA match.
Walid Regragui finally decided to call up Cheddira to take part in the World Cup in Qatar, but his presence in the Persian Gulf was limited to one appearance against Spain in the Round of 8 (0-0, 3-0 on penalties), and another, punctuated by an expulsion, against Portugal in the following round (1-0). Since the Qatari raid, the striker has made just two appearances for his country, against Brazil in a friendly (2-1, March 25, 2023) and in South Africa (1-2, June 17) in the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire. " Regragui had preselected him for the AFCON. He didn't select him, but he's keeping a close eye on his performances, and if he continues on his current path, Cheddira can look forward to a return to the national team in the near future," adds Fouhami.And maybe even in June against Zambia and Congo, in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The player with dual Italian and Moroccan nationality, who cut his teeth in Series C and D with Sangiustese, Arezzo, Calcio Lecco, Mantova and Bari, which he helped to advance to Serie B at the end of the 2021-2022 season, presents an interesting profile, according to Hassan Benabicha. " He's a player who likes to make calls, who uses depth, whereas a lot of strikers prefer to receive the ball at their feet. He's generous, powerful and a real handful for defenders. Technically, he's not extraordinary, but he can improve.
Khalid Fouhami sees Walid Cheddira as a striker whose qualities could prove useful to a national team looking ahead to the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco and the 2026 World Cup." The upcoming events are important, and the coach is going to need players in top form. Walid Cheddira is in a good period, he plays for a small club in a big league, and from what I've read, Napoli are considering putting their faith in him next season", analyses the former Raja Casablanca and Atlas Lions goalkeeper (35 caps). "In my opinion, Cheddira still has room for improvement, particularly technically and in front of goal. If he plays for a big team like Napoli next season, we'll be able to better assess his level..."
