Ajax: Abdellah Ouazane Scores His First Goal in Eredivisie

Abdellah Ouazane picked his moment well. In the second round of the 2026–27 Eredivisie season, the 17-year-old Ajax midfielder scored his first goal in the Dutch top flight, a moment that came to define a 2–2 draw against SC Heerenveen at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

A well-timed moment for Ouazane: at just 17, his first Eredivisie goal helped define a 2–2 draw with Heerenveen.

The match had started well for Ajax. An own goal from Heerenveen goalkeeper Bernt Klaverboer put the home side ahead in the 7th minute. Then, in the 33rd minute, Ouazane doubled the lead with a strike that quickly drew attention across Dutch football media. Taking the ball from outside the penalty area, he curled a powerful shot into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Some reports suggested he beat a defender before shooting, while others credited a pass from teammate Caio Henrige as the final touch before his effort. Either way, the result was the same: a goal Dutch outlets like VoetbalPrimeur, VoetbalCentraal, and ESPN described as a “screamer” and a “eurogol.”

For Ouazane, the goal carried extra significance. It was his first senior competitive goal for Ajax’s first team and only his second appearance in the league this season, marking his first inclusion in the starting lineup. Before this, his professional experience came with Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie, where he scored four goals in 25 appearances during the 2025–26 campaign. The step up to Ajax’s senior side, and now a goal in the Eredivisie, reflects the rapid progress of a player already regarded as one of the club’s top academy prospects. Such emerging talent is part of a broader wave of young Moroccan-linked players making their mark in European football, alongside established figures like Mohamed Chibi, who has built his own reputation as one of the Atlas Lions’ defensive stalwarts. This new generation follows in the footsteps of stars such as Achraf Hakimi, whose dynamic rise has made him one of Morocco’s most influential footballing trailblazers.

Despite the bright start, Ajax could not hold on to their two-goal advantage. Heerenveen fought back in the second half, scoring twice to level the match at 2–2. The comeback highlighted defensive lapses and a drop in intensity from the home side, even as Ouazane remained an active presence going forward, testing Heerenveen’s defense on several occasions.

While the result was not what Ajax wanted, Ouazane’s goal stood out as a clear positive. It reinforced his growing reputation and offered an early glimpse of the role he could play for Ajax as the season progresses.