Badr Benoun

Badr Benoun (also spelt as Badr Banoune; بدر بانون; born 30 September 1993) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Qatar Stars League club Qatar SC and the Morocco national team. He is nicknamed "Sultan". He started his professional career playing for Raja CA.

The beginning of the march
Benoun started his career playing for Raja Club Athletic. He won his first trophy with the club after finishing 1st in the 2012–13 Botola. He was loaned out to Wydad de Fès to gain more playing time and experience. He played a total of 16 games before being loaned out again to RS Berkane. In 2015 he was called back to the club.

Raja CA
Benoun's return bought excitement back to the Raja fans. He won his second trophy after defeating Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi in the 2017 Moroccan Throne Cup after scoring a penalty.

2018–2020
In 2018, Raja qualified to play the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup. Raja entered the knock-out stages after topping the group stages. Raja reached to the finals and won the cup. This guaranteed them a spot in the 2019 CAF Super Cup. Raja was to face Espérance Sportive de Tunis the match was to take place in Doha. Benoun scored a goal in the 64th minute and won the cup. He also won the 2019–20 Botola and the 2019–20 Arab Club Champions Cup. He spent five seasons with the club before signing with Al Ahly.

Al Ahly
In November 2020, he joined Egyptian club Al Ahly. He represented the club during the FIFA Club World Cup and secured the bronze medal after a victory against Brazilian side Palmeiras. Soon after, he won the 2020 Egypt Cup, the 2021 CAF Champions League and the 2020 CAF Super Cup. He later went on to defeat his former team Raja to win the 2021 CAF Super Cup.

Qatar SC
In July 2022, he signed for Qatari club Qatar SC on a three-year deal.

International career
In 2013, Benoun won a gold medal at the 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games after defeating Indonesia 2–1 in the final.

On 7 October 2017, he made his international debut for Morocco in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Gabon at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, replacing Medhi Benatia in a 3–0 victory.

In May 2018, he was named in Morocco's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

On 10 January 2022, Benoun was replaced by Achraf Bencharki for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering an injury that would limit his participation in the competition.

On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Career statistics

 * Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first.

Honours
Raja CA
 * Botola: 2012–13, 2019–20
 * Coupe du Trône: 2017
 * CAF Confederation Cup: 2018
 * CAF Super Cup: 2019

Al Ahly
 * Egypt Cup: 2019–20
 * CAF Champions League: 2020–21
 * CAF Super Cup: 2020, 2021

Morocco
 * Islamic Solidarity Games: 2013
 * African Nations Championship: 2018

Individual
 * Botola Best Defender: 2017–18
 * African Nations Championship Team of the Tournament: 2018
 * FIFA Arab Cup Team of the Tournament: 2021

Orders
 * Order of the Throne: 2022