2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Morocco coach Walid Regragui calls up two youngsters for Niger and Zambia games

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has named two promising talents in his 33-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.

Defenders Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, currently at French club Nantes Stade Rennes, and Mohamed Joub of Spanish side Real Valladolid, have been included as Regragui looks to bolster his defensive options.

The Atlas Lions are set to face Niger and Zambia on September 5 and 9, 2025, in crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Both players have been notified of their inclusion and are expected to join the national team for the official training camp ahead of the fixtures.

The call-ups come in response to a series of setbacks in Morocco’s defensive line, including injuries to key players such as Romain Saiss and Chadi Riyad, alongside inconsistent performances from others during recent camps.

Regragui’s strategy reflects an effort to refresh the squad while maintaining defensive solidity ahead of the qualifiers.