Sources close to the Moroccan national team have confirmed that head coach Walid Regragui is sticking with a small selection of locally based players, maintaining the “local quota” from previous rosters.
This list includes three players from the Moroccan domestic league, as Regragui prepares to announce the squad next week for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho.
Insiders revealed that Youssef Belamri, the Raja Casablanca player who was part of previous line-ups, will not be included due to an injury that will sideline him for both games.
With Belamri’s absence, the trio of local players expected to feature are Mounir El Mohammadi from Nahdet Berkane, Salah El Din Chehab from MAS Fez, and Jamal El Din Harkas from Wydad.
While Regragui continues to prioritize overseas-based talent, with most of the squad being drawn from European leagues, this roster will see the return of key players recovering from injury.
Hakim Ziyech, now a standout with Galatasaray, Shadi Riyad of Crystal Palace, and Ibrahim Diaz from Real Madrid are all expected to rejoin the national team, bringing a wealth of experience and skill to Morocco’s AFCON qualifying efforts.
The decision to balance both local and international talent reflects Regragui’s strategic approach in building a squad capable of securing qualification, with a strong reliance on Europe-based stars to lead the charge.
This roster announcement is highly anticipated by Moroccan fans eager to see the blend of local and international players striving to secure Morocco’s place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
