Eerste Divisie: U-20 World Cup champion Ismaël Baouf continues goalscoring run for Cambuur

Morocco U-20 World Cup champions Ismaël Baouf is well on his way to helping SC Cambuur achieve promotion to the Netherlands’ Eredivisie after scoring his fourth goal in six matches during a 2-1 Eerste Divisie victory over Eindhoven FC.

Wéér Ismaël Baouf 🇲🇦🔥

De centrale verdediger is de laatste zes wedstrijden vier keer trefzeker 👏#camein pic.twitter.com/FNNqH47dCT

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) February 24, 2026

The 19-year-old central defender produced a powerful low header from Iwan Henstra’s free kick that snuck under Eindhoven goalkeeper Jort Borgmans to help the hosts equalize. Rangelo Janga previously gave Eindhoven the lead with a 29th minute penalty.

In the final fifteen minutes, Henstra provided the match-winning goal after the halftime substitute pounced on a defensive mistake in the penalty area to fire in his finish.

Cambuur are eight points back of league leaders ADO Den Haag but have two matches in hand, while also being in a strong position to clinch promotion with a top-2 finish. They lead third place De Graafschap by nine points with two less matches played.

How joining Cambuur and playing for Morocco has boosted Baouf’s career

For Baouf, making the move to the Netherlands is working out brilliantly. The Belgian-Moroccan turned professional with Anderlecht in his native country, making 51 appearances over three seasons before joining his current club.

Now he is on the verge of securing top division European football next season while being an important player for the club. He has 6 goals in 19 appearances and is showing all the right characteristics for a young defender to make the jump to the Eredivisie. Having a knack to get on the end of set pieces to score goals is an unexpected bonus.

Goal from baouf vs young ajax pic.twitter.com/FXgiyYQpjJ

— Mouloud Ablad (@Mouloudablad) February 16, 2026

Of course, his career has further been boosted by the decision to represent Morocco at the international level. Previously a member of Belgium youth national teams up to the U-19 level, in October 2024 Baouf elected to represent the North African nation and was an important squad member at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations as well as the U-20 World Cup which Morocco won in October.