The Best Desert Fox

I brilliantly managed to stay awake during the Jordan-Algeria match. Not because I was thrilled by the clash, but because there's a 20-year-old midfielder for the 'Fennecs' whom I particularly admire. His name is Ibrahim Maza, and he started making a name for himself last season at Bayer Leverkusen. He's a special player, and we'll be hearing a lot more about him in the near future. Maza, I later learned, was named Man of the Match by FIFA. Something that seemed clear at first glance, even through the haze of sleep, but you never know when the decision comes from the organization itself.

His statistics, understandably, are impressive, especially to those unfamiliar with him. He had the most touches in the opposition box (6), the most shots (4), and the most successful dribbles (5).

He won half of his 16 ground duels, yet every aerial challenge he contested, standing at 1.80 meters tall, was his. He also completed eight passes in the final third, with an 80% accuracy rate. Whether you're a stats enthusiast or not, Maza is brilliant with the ball at his feet, especially when it's glued to his right. He's constantly on the move, unfazed by pressure, and incredibly quick in execution. Furthermore, he possesses a knack for 'arriving' and finishing in the decisive moments, contributing goals and assists, even when operating from a double pivot. He is the best and most astute desert fox at just 20 years old, in a world that continues to doubt the power of youth.