Youssef En-Nesyri scores for Al-Ittihad before embracing Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou

Youssef En-Nesyri produced a moment of individual brilliance for Al-Ittihad against Al-Hilal before turning the spotlight to the friendship between two Morocco team-mates.

The striker equalised in the 22nd minute of Saturday’s Roshn Saudi League clash, finding the net with a powerful, unexpected shot that left Yassine Bounou unable to keep it out.

En-Nesyri received an excellent pass from Al-Ittihad team-mate Marwan Al-Sahafi before striking first time. The ball travelled at considerable speed and flew beyond Bounou, despite the Al-Hilal goalkeeper’s attempt to deal with it.

The goal added to the intensity of the Saudi classic, but En-Nesyri chose not to celebrate in front of the Al-Hilal supporters. Instead, he went straight towards Bounou and embraced him.

That gesture became one of the match’s most notable scenes, combining the force of En-Nesyri’s finish with the sporting spirit he showed towards his club and Morocco team-mate.

The pair were competing on opposite sides as Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad fought for control of the match, yet the embrace underlined the close relationship between Morocco’s international players away from the pitch.

Both En-Nesyri and Bounou were focused on helping their respective clubs in the Roshn Saudi League encounter. However, the striker’s decision to acknowledge his friend immediately after scoring demonstrated that their personal bond and mutual respect remained intact despite the rivalry.

The equaliser was also highlighted in a post on social media by Thmanyah Sports, which described it as Al-Ittihad’s response in the classic and shared footage of En-Nesyri’s finish.

The match was part of the eighth round of the Roshn Saudi League and took place on Saturday, 10 October 2026.