It isn’t common to list an intangible as a young player’s greatest attribute, yet Anatouf’s greatest strength as a footballer is his football IQ. While he isn’t the tallest or strongest striker, his instincts in the penalty area are elite, and his intelligence greatly contributes to his team’s buildup play. Hailing from the remote province of Tindouf in the southwestern reaches of the Algerian Sahara desert, Anatouf has swiftly climbed the ranks of the youth national teams to earn the captain’s armband for the under-17 national squad. He has often shown incredible maturity for his age, rallying his teammates after setbacks. His exceptional performance in the regional Under-17 UNAF tournament earned him the title of the tournament’s best player, and he further distinguished himself by scoring all three of Algeria’s goals at the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations. After cutting his teeth at an Algerian football federation academy, he secured a transfer to Mouloudia Club of Algiers, Algeria’s largest football club, during the summer. While he is expected to start with the reserves, it would come as no surprise if this young prodigy makes his debut for the senior squad sometime during the upcoming season.
