Ayman El Wafi

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Ayman El Wafi
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-05-11) 11 May 2004 (age 22)
Place of birth Camaiore, Italy
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 FC Lugano
Number 22
Youth career
2015–2021 Livorno
2021–2023 Hellas Verona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– FC Lugano 29 (1)
2023– FC Lugano II 1 (0)
International career‡
2021 Morocco U17 1 (0)
2022 Morocco U20 6 (0)
2023– Morocco U23 12 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Morocco
U-23 Africa Cup of Nations
Winner Morocco 2023 U-23 Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 June 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 June 2025

Ayman El Wafi (Arabic: أَيْمَن الْوَافِي, Arabic pronunciation: [ˈaj.ma:n aɫ.wa:fi]; born 11 May 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Swiss Super League club FC Lugano. Born in Italy, El Wafi represents Morocco at youth international level.

Early life

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Born and raised in Camaiore, Italy to Moroccan parents, El Wafi relocated to Tangier with his family in 2012, aged eight, following the death of his father; he moved back to his country of birth three years later.[1]

Club career

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In the summer of 2015, shortly after his return to Italy, El Wafi was noticed by several scouts from Livorno at a local youth tournament, and subsequently joined the club's youth sector.[1] In February 2021, he joined Hellas Verona's academy,[2][3] as a consequence of Livorno's financial crisis.[1] Having come through the club's youth ranks, the defender started training with Verona's first team during the 2022–23 season, under head coach Marco Zaffaroni,[4] while establishing himself as a regular starter for the under-19 team.[5][6]

On 8 June 2023, it was officially announced that El Wafi would join Swiss side FC Lugano on a free transfer from 1 July, having signed a four-year contract with the Ticinese club.[5][7][8] On 29 July, he made his professional debut for the club, coming on as a substitute for Kreshnik Hajrizi in the 57th minute of a 1–0 league win over St. Gallen.[9][10] On 21 September, he made his European debut as an injury-time substitute in a UEFA Europa Conference League goalless draw against Bodø/Glimt in the group stage.[11][12] On 17 December, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–2 league draw with Servette.[13][14]

International career

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El Wafi has represented Morocco at several youth international levels, having played for the under-20 and under-23 national teams.[4][5][15]

In October 2022, he took part in the 2022 UNAF U-20 Tournament in Egypt, which served as a qualifying round for the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[16]

After making his debut for the under-23 national team in March 2023,[17][18] El Wafi was included in the squad for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco itself.[19][20] As the youngest player in the squad, he played four games throughout the tournament,[6] where the Atlas Lions won their first title[21][22] and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[21][23]

In July 2024, El Wafi was originally included in the Moroccan squad for the men's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics;[24][25] however, he withdrew after his club refused to release him, and was replaced by Bilal El Ouadghiri.[25]

Style of play

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El Wafi has been described as a left-footed centre-back, who can play indifferently in a back-four or a back-three and has good physical and technical attributes.[4][7]

Honours

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Morocco U23

References

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  25. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  • Ayman El Wafi at WorldFootball.netLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Ayman El Wafi at BeSoccerLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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