In 2008 he stepped up an age category and competed in the under-23 competition of the 2008 European Cross Country Championships, where he finished in eighth and shared in the team bronze medal with France. He ran on the world senior stage for the first time the following year, taking 63rd at the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and being selected for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. However, he did not make it into the final of the world men's 5000 metres at the latter competition. That season he set a European under-23 record in the 3000 metres, running at time of 7:37.50 at the Meeting Areva in July. He won his first senior medal at the 2010 European Cross Country Championships as he finished in fifth place behind compatriot Abdellatif Meftah to take the men's senior team title.