Mohamed Ouahbi set to reshape Morocco squad after World Cup quarter-final exit

Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi is preparing to make major changes to his squad, with six players who featured at the 2026 World Cup expected to be left out of the team’s next selection in September.

Ouahbi has begun reassessing the players he relied on during the tournament as he plans for Morocco’s upcoming international commitments. The manager is understood to believe that the Atlas Lions need a broader and more effective group of options, particularly among the substitutes.

That assessment has led him to consider introducing new players and changing the make-up of the national team after Morocco’s run at the World Cup ended in the quarter-finals.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation previously decided to keep Ouahbi in charge, despite the team’s elimination from the competition. Morocco reached the last eight of the tournament, which was staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, before losing 2-0 to France.

According to Moroccan website Sport7, Ouahbi has settled on excluding six players who were part of Morocco’s World Cup squad from the list expected to be announced for the next international break in September.

The players reportedly at risk of being omitted are Ayoub El Kaabi, Sofyan Amrabat, Amine Sbai, Youssef Belammari, Marouane Saadane and goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui.

The report adds that further changes could be made, with Helhal and Amimouni also among the names who may be left out as Ouahbi begins a wider restructuring of the team.

The manager is expected to use the international camp at the end of September to assess a number of new players. The intention is to test different options and identify fresh tactical solutions for Morocco’s next challenges.

Ouahbi’s plans reflect a desire to give the squad greater variety and quality, particularly in areas where he believes the team needs more depth. The proposed changes would represent a significant refresh of the group that travelled to the World Cup.

Morocco’s quarter-final appearance made them one of the leading sides in the tournament, but their defeat by France has prompted a review of the squad. With the federation retaining Ouahbi, the coach now appears set to use the next international window as the first stage of a new phase for the Atlas Lions.

The final September squad has not yet been announced, and the six reported exclusions are not the only possible changes. More players could be left out before the list is confirmed, while the upcoming camp is expected to give several new faces the opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the national team.