Abdellah Ouazane curled a long-range effort into the top corner to double Ajax’s lead against sc Heerenveen, marking his first official goal for the club’s first team at just 17 years old. The strike came in the 33rd minute at the Johan Cruijff Arena, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary, and put Ajax firmly in control during the second matchday of the 2026-2027 Eredivisie season. The hosts had already gone ahead in the 7th minute when Heerenveen goalkeeper Bernt Klaverboer turned the ball into his own net.
Ouazane, just 17, curled a stunning long-range strike into the top corner to double Ajax’s lead over Heerenveen.
Ouazane’s goal stood out for its technical quality. Struck from outside the box, the shot carried real power and a slight curl before dipping under the crossbar and into the right side of the net. Dutch media described the effort as “snoeihard,” a term reserved for shots hit with unusual force and precision. Ouazane later explained that the ball “daalt een beetje,” a dipping quality he attributes to studying his brother Zakaria, who is known for similarly powerful strikes.
The goal marked a significant milestone in Ouazane’s development. It was his first official goal for Ajax’s senior side, coming in only his second appearance with the first team after his debut start against PEC Zwolle in the opening round. His emergence follows his decision to stay at Ajax rather than pursue a since-collapsed move to Real Madrid, a choice reinforced by a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2028. The performance was widely seen as evidence of a smooth progression from Jong Ajax to the senior squad. His rise echoes that of fellow Moroccan talent Adam Aznou, another young prospect drawing attention for his progression through the ranks. It also recalls the trajectory of Azzedine Ounahi, whose emergence as a rising star for the Atlas Lions demonstrated how quickly young Moroccan players can make an impact once given a chance.
Despite the quality of the finish, Ouazane remained unmoved in his celebration and unsatisfied afterward. Speaking to ESPN, he called it “a beautiful goal” but insisted his overall performance fell short of his own standards, saying “the game has to be a lot better.” His measured reaction reflected that mindset in real time.
That frustration deepened as Ajax failed to hold their two-goal advantage, eventually drawing 2-2 after conceding an equalizer in the 82nd minute. For Ouazane, the disappointing result overshadowed what should have been a purely celebratory personal milestone.
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