Ilias Chair is part of Morocco’s new guard for the Africa Cup of Nations along with Louza and Ounahi. But Chair seems to have a head start in the squad despite the competition. He is likely to showcase himself to the world by playing a major role for Morocco at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ilias Chair is set to play his first Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco. The 24 year old midfielder was actually selected for his first cap with the Atlas Lions in June 2021. And he scored in his first official match against Sudan. Used in various positions (winger, relay midfielder, attacking midfielder), Chair took advantage of the sidelining of Hakim Ziyech to make a string of appearances during the World Cup qualification. In the absence of Adel Taarabt, Vahid Halilhodzic’s new protégé could be one of the surprises of this 2021 African Cup of Nations. And he has the resources to do it.
For the past two seasons, he has been the shining star of the Queens Park Rangers squad in the English second division. Armed with a great technical quality, with the ball, Ilias Chair is a little genius who circulates quietly in the middle of the field. With his low centre of gravity, the QPR playmaker is able to easily exploit the small spaces left free by his opponents with his attractive ball control.
Chair, QPR’s new master
Ilias Chair was one of the most promising players in the Championship when he returned to QPR on loan.
Gradually integrating, he played around 20 first-team games and impressed English football fans. He managed to deliver during this 2019/2020 season, 6 assists and scored 4 goals. Moreover, at the end of the season, The Guardian included his portrait among the ten young revelations of Football League.
Thanks to his versatility, Ilias Chair and his teammate Eberechi Eze were able to get along very well on the pitch. But the departure of the Nigerian-born Englishman will allow Chair to take on a new dimension. He inherits the number 10 shirt and the responsibilities that go with it. He is now QPR’s new playmaker, even managing to make his former team-mate forget about him, who left for Crystal Palace for almost 20 million euros.
“It’s an honour to be compared to Adel Taarabt”
The confirmation season went very well for the 22-year-old attacking midfielder. As the games went by, he assumed his responsibilities and confirmed all the good things said about him a few months before. He accumulated 8 goals and 4 assists. Currently halfway through the English second division, Ilias Chair seems to be on his way to improving his statistics with 6 goals and 3 assists for the moment.
Like any good midfielder, London’s new star has made vision one of his primary qualities. While returning from his loan spell in the third division, the young player was compared to the Moroccan international and former club captain. It’s an honour to be compared to Adel Taarabt. He’s a legend here. At the time, he was playing for Morocco at U23 level after having played for the U20s. Born in Belgium, but unlike many dual nationals, Chair played in the youth categories with Morocco. This has undoubtedly encouraged him to embark on a career with the Atlas Lions, with whom he is about to discover the African Cup of Nations.
source www.sportnewafrica.com
Written by Mary Soumar
