Abdel Abqar Explained

Abdel Abqar
Full Name:Abdelkabir Abqar
Birth Date:10 March 1999
Birth Place:Settat, Morocco
Height:1.88 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Alavés
Clubnumber:5
Youthclubs1:Mohammed VI Academy
Youthyears2:2017–2018
Youthclubs2:Málaga
Years1:2017–2020
Clubs1:Málaga B
Caps1:57
Goals1:1
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Málaga
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2022
Clubs3:Alavés B
Caps3:24
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–
Clubs4:Alavés
Caps4:62
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2024–
Nationalteam1:Morocco
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:3 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:22 March 2024

Abdelkabir "Abdel" Abqar (Arabic: عبد الكبير أبقار; born 10 March 1999) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Alavés and the Morocco national team.

Club career

Born in Settat, Abqar joined Málaga CF's youth setup in 2017 from Mohammed VI Football Academy.[1] He made his senior debut with the former's reserves on 12 November 2017, starting in a 1–0 Tercera División away loss against CD Huétor Tájar.

Abqar made his first-team debut on 11 September 2018, starting in a 2–1 home loss against UD Almería for the season's Copa del Rey.[2] It was his maiden appearance for the main squad, as he continued to feature regularly with the B's and suffering relegation at the end of the campaign.

On 22 July 2020, Abqar signed for another reserve team, Deportivo Alavés B in Segunda División B.[3] The following 6 May, he renewed his contract until 2025.[4]

Abqar first appeared with Alavés' main squad on 30 November 2021, playing the entire second half in a 3–0 away win over Unami CP, also for the national cup. He was definitely promoted to the first team for the 2022–23 season, with the club now in Segunda División,[5] and became a first-choice as the club returned to La Liga at first attempt; his first professional goal occurred on 29 October 2022, as he scored the opener in a 2–1 home win over Real Oviedo.[6]

International career

On 13 March 2023, Abqar was called up to the full squad by manager Walid Regragui, for friendlies against Brazil and Peru.[7] [8]

On 28 December 2023, Abqar was amongst the 27 players selected by coach Walid Regragui to represent Morocco in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.[9] [10]

He made his debut on 22 March 2024 in a friendly against Angola.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tres nuevos marroquíes para la Academia. Three new Moroccans for the Academy. Málaga Hoy. es. 1 August 2017. 11 September 2018.
  2. Web site: El Almería remonta al Málaga y pasa a la siguiente ronda. Almería complete comeback over Málaga and go to the following round. Marca. es. 11 September 2018. 11 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Abqar abandona el Málaga y ficha por el Deportivo Alavés. Abqar leaves Málaga and signs for Deportivo Alavés. La Opinión de Málaga. es. 22 July 2020. 8 August 2020.
  4. Web site: El Alavés renueva a Abqar hasta 2025. Alavés renew Abqar until 2025. Noticias de Álava. es. 6 May 2021. 30 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Abde y Abqar se integran de maravilla en el Glorioso. Abde and Abqar are wonderfully integrated at the Glorioso. Diario AS. es. 31 August 2022. 30 June 2023.
  6. Web site: Lekuona . Javier . 29 October 2022 . Salva Sevilla diluye el ‘efecto Cervera’ en Mendizorroza . 2 September 2023 . Diario AS . es-ES.
  7. Web site: 13 March 2023 . Regragui unveils his Atlas Lions list for March friendlies . 13 March 2023 . HESPRESS English - Morocco News . en-US.
  8. Web site: Aamari . Oussama . Walid Regragui Announces Morocco’s Squad for March Friendlies . 13 March 2023 . moroccoworldnews . en.
  9. Web site: 2023-12-28 . Regragui unveils 27 player list for Morocco’s participation in CAN 2023 . 2023-12-29 . HESPRESS English - Morocco News . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2023-12-28 . Regragui names 27 provisional players for AFCON . 2023-12-29 . CAF . en-GB.
  11. Web site: ESPN. Morocco v Angola game report. 22 March 2024.