Ajax youngster Ouazane earns high praise from pundits after substitute cameo

Abdellah Ouazane has caught the eye of football pundits with his substitute appearance against Fortuna Sittard. The 17-year-old Ajax midfielder earned high praise from analyst Kees Kwakman following Saturday evening's 5-1 victory.

Kwakman, who analysed the match for ESPN, could not imagine a lineup for the upcoming midweek fixture against Willem II without the youngster. "Ouazane, that talent just shines through," the pundit said. "Okay, he's seventeen, still has a lot to learn and I know it was a match against Fortuna Sittard." He was nevertheless clearly impressed by the academy product.

Technical quality

During his minutes on the pitch, Ouazane displayed his technical class. He dribbled past two defenders, delivered a clever backheel pass and played a no-look pass that put his teammates in a dangerous position. These actions supported Kwakman's assessment, who compared the teenager to other players and noted a clear difference in quality.

"Ouazane is definitely one of the big gems at Ajax right now," Kwakman emphasised. "He really lives for football." Analyst Nourdin Boukhari joined in the praise, though he also highlighted the recent contributions of goalscorers Tolu Arokodare and Julian Brandt.

Gradual integration expected

Manager Míchel is expected to integrate Ouazane gradually into the first-team setup. The win over Fortuna Sittard was Ajax's fourth victory in their last five league matches, leaving them fifth in the Eredivisie with ten points. The team has scored fourteen goals and conceded six so far this season.

The next fixture is a rescheduled match against 17th-placed Willem II on Tuesday at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Aaron Bouwman remains unavailable for that game. Fans can check the current squad and upcoming fixtures on the site. Ouazane's impressive cameo provides Míchel with an additional option in midfield during a busy schedule.