Mountakhab 2026: Munir El Kajoui, the goalkeeper for every generation

In a squad where the spotlight often falls on Yassine Bounou or Achraf Hakimi, Munir El Kajoui represents a quieter kind of strength. Never the most publicized nor the most talked about, he is always there when Morocco needs him. Since 2015, the Melilla-born goalkeeper has bridged generations of the national team, coaches, and competitions with rare longevity and consistency.

In March 2015, under Badou Zaki, Munir joined a Moroccan team in the midst of rebuilding. Qualification for the World Cup still seemed a distant goal. Ten years later, the Lions have become World Cup semifinalists, hosts of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, and future co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup. The goalkeeper has witnessed that transformation from the inside.

A career built far from the spotlight

Born in Melilla and trained in Spain, Munir took his first steps at UD Almeria, though he was unable to establish himself there over the long term. He then gained experience in Spain’s lower divisions before joining Numancia, where he eventually earned the status of first-choice goalkeeper.

It was at the Soria-based club that he truly came into his own. Season after season, the Moroccan goalkeeper became one of the most reliable figures in Spain’s second division. Far from the noise of La Liga and the glare of media attention, he built his reputation on consistency, composure, and dependability. Those qualities later opened the doors to Malaga, and then to the Moroccan national team.

Over the years, Munir has earned the trust of several national coaches. Hervé Renard made him Morocco’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Then came Vahid Halilhodzic, Walid Regragui, and now Mohamed Ouahbi. Even as new contenders for the goalkeeper’s jersey emerged, they continued to rely on him.

Always ready

Munir’s international career has been anything but a smooth ride. Over the years, his status has changed. A starter at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he later had to deal with increasingly fierce competition.

Munir has accepted shifts in the pecking order without ever questioning his own commitment. Starter or substitute, he shows up at every gathering and does what is required of him, wherever he is needed. That attitude has earned him the respect of teammates and coaches alike, who have repeatedly turned to him as a safe pair of hands. The goalkeeper proved it again at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when he stepped in just before the start of Morocco’s group-stage match against Belgium (2-0), after an in extremis change requested by Yassine Bounou, because of a sudden bout of dizziness.

In a football world where egos often take up space, Munir’s ability to put the collective ahead of personal status has become one of his greatest strengths. He may not always be the one who draws attention, but he is often the one the staff knows they can count on.

At 37, the RS Berkane goalkeeper is preparing for a third World Cup, a privilege few Atlas Lions have enjoyed. It is the reward for a career built quietly on consistency, reliability, and discretion.