The new coach of Morocco, Mohamed Ouahbi, announced on Thursday his first list of 28 players for friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay at the end of the month.
His first list was eagerly awaited in Morocco. As Walid Regragui’s successor on the Lions of the Atlas bench, Mohamed Ouahbi announced on Thursday the 28 players called up for the friendlies against Ecuador on March 27 in Madrid and Paraguay on March 31 in Lens as part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The first call-up of Strasbourg midfielder Samir El Mourabet, as well as defenders Redouane Halhal (Malines) and Issa Diop (Fulham) are noted. Having played for the French youth teams, the former Toulouse player had previously given his priority to the Blues. His thinking has now changed.
The Bouaddi case remains pending
Also present are three U20 world champions (Ismaël Baouf, Yassir Zabiri, and Yassine Gessime), who were crowned last year under the direction of Mohamed Ouahbi. Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, announced to be in contact with the Moroccan authorities, is not included in this initial selection by the new coach. “I saw that Bouaddi was not selected by Morocco. He has the freedom to choose, I will not take that away from him,” Didier Deschamps said about the promising Lille player who was also not called up.
The 28 Lions of the Atlas: – Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Mehdi El Harrar (Raja Casablanca), El Mehdi Benabid (Wydad Casablanca). – Defenders: Zakaria El Ouahdi, Achraf Hakimi (PSG, France), Issa Diop (Fulham, England), Ismaël Baouf, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal (Rennes, France), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Souffian El Karouani (Utrecht, Netherlands), Redouane Halhal (Malines, Belgium), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace, England), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United, England). – Midfielders: Azzedine Ounahi (Gérone, Spain), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Bilal El Khannouss (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma, Italy), Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg, France), Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Mohamed Hrimat (FAR Rabat). – Forwards: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid, Spain), Yassine Gessime (Strasbourg, France), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland, England), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos, Greece), Yassir Zabiri (Rennes, France), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Betis Seville, Spain), Amine Adli (Bournemouth, England).
