Nibil Baha has spent many years and a great deal of energy in pursuit of first division football. The Moroccan toiled away in the lower leagues of French, Spanish and Portuguese football for five years before moving to Malaga CF in 2007. At that time, Malaga were playing in the Segunda Division in Spain. Baha had previously played for two other clubs in this division that were both relegated during the Moroccan striker’s stay. However, this time Baha helped his team win promotion. As soon as he arrived at Malaga CF, the striker scored 10 goals on the way to La Liga and became an important part of the squad.

Fittingly, Baha was subject to numerous enquiries from other clubs outside of Spain during the summer of 2008, but the striker rejected all of them in order to fulfil his dream of playing in Spain’s top flight. By December 2008, he was the clubs top scorer with eight goals. His first came on October 5 in a 4-0 victory over Recreativo de Huelva, and the Moroccan has even scored against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

So far this season, Malaga have performed beyond expectations and are seventh in La Liga. On Saturday night they face Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, and a great deal depends on Baha to lead the line. If Malaga manage to sneak a win they will leapfrog the cash-strapped Spanish giants into one of the European qualification slots, and perhaps into one of the Champions League spots. The Moroccan has proved that he can handle the big occasions by scoring at the Bernabeu, and is unlikely to let any opportunities to succeed pass him by. Baha has worked too hard to allow that to happen.